Arsenal are showing their ambition in the transfer market by targeting a move for Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior, but they are also in talks to sign another world-class attacker, according to TEAMtalk.

Arsenal chiefs remain determined to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the new season, ensuring they don’t stand still as they look to not only win the Premier League title again, but also achieve their dream of winning the Champions League having come so close last season.

Incoming business has been slow so far as we approach August 1, with the transfer window closing a month later on September 1.

Illan Meslier and Christos Tzolis are the only new confirmed summer additions so far, although the Gunners are seemingly working on multiple other deals for Arteta.

Reports suggest that the north Londoners are now closing in on an agreement to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes in a £70m+ deal, with Eddie Howe’s shock exit from St James’ Park on Thursday being partly linked to the fact that key players were leaving the club this summer.

Arsenal have also made their interest clear in Vinicius Junior, with no breakthrough in talks over a new contract at the Bernabeu.

They also have their eye on another top player too.

Arsenal Holding Background Talks to Sign Julian Alvarez

Rodrigo Valle via Reuters

While reports about Vinicius Junior are hogging the headlines around Arsenal at the moment, according to TEAMtalk, they continue to hold background talks over a summer move for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.

As well as strengthening on the left wing, it appears as though Arteta is looking for a new centre-forward option too, to compete with – or replace – Viktor Gyokeres.

The Argentina international has his heart set on joining Barcelona, but with Atletico refusing to sell to their La Liga rivals, it could open the door for Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal later in the window.

The report says that the Gunners believe that an opening could emerge for them to sign a star labelled as the ‘best player in the world’ by Fernandes Torres last season, in the coming weeks.

Discussions between Arsenal and Atletico have been ongoing behind-closed-doors, with the Spanish side being open to selling the player to Arsenal.

Alvarez Likes Arteta Project as Arsenal Get Creative

via Reuters

The report also adds that despite his number one choice being to go to Barcelona, he also views the Arteta project at the Emirates very positively, which is no surprise after last season.

The 26-year-old is keen on the prospect of moving to London should a deal to join Barcelona be completely ruled out, with Arsenal ready to strike if the August 10 deadline given by the Catalan outfit passes with no deal.

Gunners chiefs are also ready to get creative to get what is likely to be a big-money deal for Alvarez over the line, as they are willing to offer Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli or Gabriel Jesus to Atletico as part of any move, which is said to appeal to the team from the Spanish capital.

Slavko Vincic, the referee who took charge of the 2026 World Cup final, has cast his verdict on Argentina captain Lionel Messi’s behaviour during the game against Spain.

While Messi wasn’t involved in the heated post-match altercations that marred the final and prompted a FIFA investigation, the 39-year-old has still received heavy criticism for an incident involving Spain full-back Marc Cucurella.

Messi wanted action taken against Cucurella after the defender, who recently completed a move from Chelsea to Real Madrid, briefly put his hand to his mouth during an interaction with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

Cucurella didn’t appear to be speaking to Messi in an aggressive manner, but Argentina’s No. 10 signalled to referee Vincic that an offence had been committed.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron and Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie were both shown straight red cards during the World Cup after FIFA implemented a new rule ahead of the tournament to prevent players from insulting opponents while covering their mouths.

No action was taken against Cucurella, despite Messi’s accusations, and the legendary forward has subsequently been blasted for his ‘shameless’ behaviour.

Spain fans have even created petitions calling for Messi to be stripped of the prestigious Princess of Asturias Award for Sports, which he won shortly before the 2026 World Cup got underway.

Slavko Vincic Speaks Out About Messi’s Behaviour

REUTERS/Lee Smith

Vincic, who announced his retirement one week after the World Cup final, has now spoken out about Messi’s conduct during the final.

The former Slovenian match official disagrees with suggestions that Messi showed unsportsmanlike behaviour during the final.

“That conversation will stay on the pitch,” Vincic told reporters, per The Metro.

Per beIN Sports, Vincic emphasised that Messi showed exemplary conduct on the field at all times, respecting his decisions, helping the game flow and displaying self-control even in high-pressure situations.

He added that Messi behaved like a positive leader without excessive protests.

On the final itself, Vincic said: “The burden is great when your entire refereeing career is poured into one match, but I knew that most of the work would be in managing the match… to stop at the right moment or let the action continue.

“The biggest challenge was dealing with the emotions of the football players. This is the World Cup final, the mindsets and reactions are different, but given the importance of the match, we have to understand all of that. The biggest challenge, of course, is somehow managing everything during the match.

“We are trying to study the characteristics of the players, what they do during the break, who commits the most fouls. Of course, it is not possible to prepare completely.

“The match has its own course and within that you try to do your job as well as possible. Within that, you have to decide whether to start with warnings or cards. But it is a kind of automatism that comes from experience during your career. Sometimes you succeed better, sometimes not.

“After the final whistle, we were not too much of a problem, which indicates that we generally did an okay job, so I think the refereeing strategy was right.”

Leeds United have been given some bad news over their hopes of landing a new attacker this summer. The Whites are moving up the gears in their transfer window, looking to add to the signings of Harry Wilson and Tarik Muharemovic, and it looks as though Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford could be next.

Leeds are in talks over a £40million deal, which would be a club record, and a further goalkeeper deal will follow that to add depth to the position. But the Whites also have other areas to take care of as they look to avoid the relegation battle in the coming season, and a further striker is being sought by Farke and the club’s recruitment staff, leading them to a LaLiga star.

Leeds dealt fresh blow in Carlos Espí pursuit

Leeds were said to have been interested in a move for Levante striker Carlos Espí this summer, which has been backed up by local reporter Graham Smyth. The Whites didn’t make any formal approaches, but they are said to have had Espí on their shortlist, with the youngster having emerged as one of the most promising young forwards in Europe.

Espí helped Levante survive the LaLiga drop last season by scoring 11 times in the league, and he is still only 21 years of age. The Valencian region local has played a starring role for Las Granotas, which is why they were charging his full release clause to sell this summer, believed to be £21.4million. A number of clubs have been linked, including Villarreal just up the road, but there is a bigger Spanish fish in the water, and they have trumped all potential rivals to a deal.

It was confirmed by Fabrizio Romano on Thursday evening that Real Madrid have paid the full £21.4million release clause in Espí’s contract to sign him, and with the clubs announcing the deal, only the final details remain to finish off the transfer.

That’s bad news for the Whites, and fatal news as far as their hopes of landing Espí are concerned. Although with the Spanish youngster not likely to get immediate game time at the Bernabeu, a loan deal could be in the offing, something that was not on the table when it came to negotiating with Levante.

Espí was not going be sold for cheap

Reuters / Andrew Yates Livepic

Levante boss Luis Castro admitted earlier this summer that a sale was likely, but that the Valencian side were not going to be selling on the cheap. He said: “Carlos Espí has a great future ahead of him. I understand that the supporters want Espí to stay; I would like that too, but we have to think about the club. Espí will be a normal sale in today’s football because there are hardly any strikers like him.”

Espí was tipped for a Spain senior call-up last season, but he never quite got his chance in the lead up to the World Cup, with Luis de la Fuente prioritising players who were going to be taken to North America. But he is likely to get his call-up next season should he continue his fine form.