Vinicius Jr ‘REJECTS’ Real Madrid contract offer with Arsenal target ‘closer to a transfer than renewal’

VINICIUS JR has reportedly turned down Real Madrid’s latest contract offer. Los Blancos are said to have tabled an extension worth just over £360,000 a week. Vinicius Jr is not happy with Real Madrid’s latest contract offer Credit: EPA Vinicius wants to be paid the same as Kylian Mbappe Credit: Alamy But the Brazilian wants to be on a par with team-mate Kylian Mbappe, who picks up around £500,000 a week. Arsenal are waiting to pounce on the first sign of opportunity if discussions between Vinicius and Bernabeu bosses collapse. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! And according to Cadena SER, Vinicius is ‘closer to a transfer than a renewal’. That is partly because he has less than a year left to run on his contract and does not want to screw Real Madrid over by leaving for free next summer. And with tough negotiators in the Spanish capital unlikely to cave into his demands, ‘everything points to’ him edging towards the exit door, the report adds. Mikel Arteta has made Vinicius his top attacking target as Arsenal look to build on last season’s Premier League triumph. The 26-year-old has scored 128 goals in 376 games since arriving at the Bernabeu eight years ago. Real’s £18.8m-a-year contract offer is equal to what Cristiano Ronaldo earned during his final few seasons at the club. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Mikel Arteta has made Vinicius his top attacking target Credit: Getty But with Mbappe only arriving two seasons ago, long-serving Vinicius feels he should be compensated on the same level as Madrid’s top earner. The winger rocked up to training with his agent this week after an extended post-World Cup break. Jose Mourinho, who was re-appointed in June, wants Vinicius to commit his future to the LaLiga giants. And prising him away from Spain may not be easy for Arsenal, with Vinicius calling Real “the club of my dreams” where he wants to stay “for many years”. Comment now