Spanish La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid has entered into contract negotiations to keep forward Vinicius Junior, who has emerged as a transfer target for English club Arsenal.

British public broadcaster BBC reported today that "as Arsenal of the English Premier League (EPL) shows deep interest in Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid is scheduled to resume contract negotiations this week."

Having concluded his schedule for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, Vinicius finished his vacation and returned to Real Madrid on August 3, where he underwent medical tests and rejoined team training.

Previously, ESPN reported that if Real Madrid fails to reach a contract renewal agreement with Vinicius Junior, whose contract has one year remaining, the club could permit his transfer, pointing to Arsenal as his likely next destination.

According to the BBC, Vinicius Junior's representatives have been holding contract negotiations with Real Madrid for the past 18 months, but an agreement has not yet been reached.

Amidst this situation, renowned manager Jose Mourinho, who took the helm of Real Madrid ahead of the new season, is known to want Vinicius Junior to stay.

Consequently, Real Madrid has decided to pursue further contract negotiations soon to secure Vinicius Junior, who has one year left on his deal.

The BBC reported, "While contract talks have been ongoing for the past 18 months, progress has been slow due to differences over salary and his status within the club," adding that "the 26-year-old Vinicius Junior wants to be the highest-earning player in the team, having served as the focal point of the squad before Kylian Mbappe was signed."

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)