While Arsenal are dreaming of signing Vinicius Junior a more realistic attacker who can lead the line for the next decade is staring them right in the face.

The Gunners are exploring a potential deal for Vinicius and have reportedly been in contact with the player’s entourage. The Emirates is reportedly deemed a ‘compatible destination’ for the Real Madrid star should he not agree on a contract extension with the La Liga club.

Vinicius is one of world football’s best wingers and enjoyed a meteoric rise after joining Madrid at the age of 16. He is a talisman at the Estadio Bernabeu and many assumed a similar future had been in store for one of his teammates.

Arsenal Should Turn to Vinicius Teammate

REUTERS/Mike Segar

When Endrick arrived in the Spanish capital, his stock was sky-high after impressing in Brazil with Palmeiras. Madrid won the race to sign the then-18-year-old who is the fourth-youngest player to represent his national team.

Fast forward two years and Endrick’s future is in doubt having struggled for first-team opportunities at the Bernabeu. He spent the second half of last season on loan at French club Lyon and he got back to his best with eight goals and as many assists in 21 games.

Spanish journalist Alberto Pereiro of Radioestadio Noche reports that Endrick’s situation at Madrid has become “very complicated” and “mildly impossible to stay for the 2026-27 season.”

That will undoubtedly alert some of Europe’s top clubs and Arsenal should be on the case if the La Liga giants are looking to sell. He is one of world football’s most exciting youngsters who is clearly facing an uphill battle for a place in Jose Mourinho’s team.

While signing a new winger has been a priorty for Arteta, there is a clear need to think about a long-term number nine. Viktor Gyokeres encountered a topsy-turvy start to life at the Emirates and the 28-year-old hasn’t managed to nail down a starting berth.

Arsenal were reportedly interested in signing Endrick back in May and made an enquiry over bringing him to North London. It’s a much more achievable deal than Vinicius and the other forward they are chasing.

Go For Endrick Over Expensive Alvarez

Julian Alvarez’s name keeps coming up as a potential option for the North Londoners, but Atletico Madrid are expected to demand over £100 million for the Argentine forward. Signing Alvarez will jeopardise Gyokeres and Kai Havertz’s game time as he’ll want to be an undisputed starter.

Endrick, dubbed “spectacular”, is still young and can develop into a world-class striker to be the focal point of the Gunners’ attack for years to come. He is also versatile, able to play out wide if required, and that will suit Arteta, who needs more options in his frontline.

Chasing Vinicius is admirable and speaks volumes of the Premier League champions’ ambition. But a contract extension seems the most likely outcome given his known desire to stay at the Bernabeu and turning to Endrick would be a perfect outcome.

Endrick is the type of signing that can help Arteta build for the future and continue to dominate English football. While it just hasn’t worked out for him at Madrid, a move to the Emirates could be ideal for both the player and the club.

Tottenham Hotspur are looking to sign a striker this summer, and the North London club’s key decision-makers have seemingly compiled a four-man shortlist of potential options for this position.

The Lilywhites have thus far focused on rebuilding their defence and midfield in this window. Sandro Tonali arrived from Newcastle for £100million, while Mateus Fernandes joined from West Ham for £85million, giving Roberto De Zerbi an entirely new double pivot in the middle of the park.

Jan Paul van Hecke was acquired from Brighton for £52million, while free agents Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka have also been added to De Zerbi’s squad. Now, the attention turns to bolstering the forward department, with Richarlison potentially on his way out and Dominic Solanke in need of competition.

With that said, here are four targets Spurs have reportedly identified to fill this roll in their squad.

Eli Junior Kroupi

via Reuters

Club: Bournemouth

Age: 20

It’s well documented that Eli Junior Kroupi is Tottenham’s priority target up front. The Bournemouth youngster enjoyed an exceptionally productive debut campaign in the Premier League, netting 13 goals in just 33 appearances.

He’s the hottest young striker on the market, with his ability to get an abundance of high-quality shots at such a young age an extremely positive sign regarding his development. However, this potential is reflected in Bournemouth’s reported price demands.

Reputable journalist Alasdair Gold suggests that the Cherries have placed an £85million price tag on Kroupi, and that any offers that fall short of this valuation will be swiftly dismissed. For the time being, Spurs are seemingly weighing up alternatives, in the hope that Bournemouth budge.

That said, it’s certainly plausible that the south coast club don’t fold, having already lost their manager this summer ahead of their first-ever season in European competition. Spurs may be forced to look at other options on their shortlist.

Omar Marmoush

Club: Manchester City

Age: 27

Rather than going for a young striker who can develop alongside De Zerbi’s evolving project at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Lilywhites could turn to a more ready-made, experienced option who can fire them straight back into Europe at the first attempt.

Caught Offside and other credible sources believe Omar Marmoush is being targeted by Tottenham, and the Egyptian would certainly fit this alternative profile. Things haven’t gone according to plan for Marmoush at Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola struggling to find a way to accommodate him alongside Erling Haaland at the Etihad.

Now, it appears Enzo Maresca may not be fond of the 28-year-old, with the Italian potentially willing to sanction his departure. The former Eintracht Frankfurt man could simply do with an injection of faith from his coach, and De Zerbi can provide this.

While not an out-and-out striker, Marmoush’s versatility would make him a useful squad member at Tottenham, supplying De Zerbi with a multitude of options in terms of his attacking configurations.

Nicolo Tresoldi

Club: Club Brugge

Age: 20

If Spurs do want to stick with a younger age profile but cannot land Kroupi, then they could turn to Nicolo Tresoldi. According to TEAMtalk, Tresoldi is under consideration by the Tottenham recruitment team.

Netting 23 goals and providing seven assists last season for Club Brugge, the German has demonstrated a capacity to deliver output as a lone number nine. While the Premier League would be a major step up for him, his production at the age of just 20 is promising, and he’d be worth a punt should Spurs be able to land him for a reasonable price.

If he’s not good enough for the English top flight, Tottenham can probably move him on in a year or two at a minimal loss, and they still have Solanke to pick up the pieces. If he is, then it could prove to be a very smart investment.

Fisnik Asllani

via Reuters

Club: Hoffenheim

Age: 23

Another name seemingly on Spurs’ shortlist is Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani. The same report from TEAMtalk suggests the Kosovan and Tresoldi are the Lilywhites’ two primary alternatives for Kroupi, if Bournemouth hold firm on their excessive valuation.

Asllani, whilst promising, would represent much more of a gamble than Tresoldi. While his German counterpart has been playing in a much less competitive league, Asllani’s output pales in comparison, and he’s three years younger.

Last term was the 23-year-old’s first full season in a top five league, and he contributed to 19 goals in 35 appearances. While this is a respectable return, it doesn’t scream potential Premier League superstar, whereas that’s certainly still in the range of outcomes for Tresoldi.

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo is desperate to add some bite into his centre midfield this summer, following last year’s disappointing Premier League season.

The Hammers cannot continue to rely upon the legs of 31-year-old Tomas Soucek to do the heavy work, while 20-year-old talent Mohamadou Kanté still needs nurturing and academy graduate Freddie Potts is set for a move to Belgium.

The bright spark last season was former Southampton man Mateus Fernandes, who has now joined Tottenham Hotspur for a lofty £85 million. That money must be reinvested in the midfield and West Ham appear to know their number one target in Celtic star Arne Engels.

Nottingham Forest rival West Ham for midfielder

West Ham are in talks with Celtic over the transfer move. Engels is known to have interest from a number of Premier League sides, with Nottingham Forest having had multiple offers rejected by the Glasgow giants on Deadline Day in February.

Forest are desperately browsing the market for a new midfielder, and could once again return for Engels, but the priority target at the City Ground is currently Tottenham Hotspur man Lucas Bergvall.

At this stage, it is the Hammers who are frontrunners for a deal. Engels has another two years left to run on his Celtic contract but Hoops boss Marin O’Neill confirmed this week that a bid had been submitted for the player. The veteran manager claimed the offer didn’t ‘remotely meet their valuation’.

Celtic set Arne Engels asking price

Having cashed in on Fernandes, as well as earning £68million through the sale of Crysencio Summerville, West Ham are in something of a comfortable position financially.

ExWHUEmployee claims that Celtic will demand £25million to green light an exit for Engels which, despite reported competition from Premier League clubs, feels a realistic fee for the Hammers.

West Ham are yet to cough up a significant transfer fee this summer, with the only outlay being the £1million spent on under-21 star Keiber Lamadrid from Deportivo La Guaira.

Celtic paid £11million to sign Engels from Augsburg in the summer of 2024, in what was a club record transfer fee. The midfielder has gone on to make 98 appearances for the club. He could play for O’Neill in the Scottish Premiership opening fixture on Monday night, when Dundee visit Celtic.