Arsenal are exploring several blockbuster transfers after winning the Premier League title

Mikel Arteta may to have ditch his own rule if Arsenal are to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid. The Gunners are interested in making an audacious move for the Brazil superstar, who remains in contract talks with Los Blancos with just a year remaining on his current deal.

The Gunners would have to cough up a British record £137m to sign the 26-year-old, according to reports in Spain. Vinicius would also command wages of at least £400,000, making him the club's best-paid player.

That would represent an about-turn from Arteta, who axed players on similar wages after taking charge in 2019. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who were on at least £350,000 per week, were moved on early in the Spaniard's reign.

Arsenal have recently revisited those kinds of sums by awarding Bukayo Saka a new contract worth £365,000 a week. However, as a homegrown talent and loyal servant to the club, he arguably deserves such rewards.

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Handing a new signing such a gargantuan deal would see the club revisit the vast salaries that were occasionally dished out during the final years of Arsene Wenger's reign.

With a first Premier League crown in more than two decades in the bag and the club on such a strong financial footing, such wages are within the club's range. They could also become commonplace as Areta looks to keep the key members of his title-winning squad together.

As for Vinicius, his future at Real is uncertain following Jose Mourinho's return. The Portuguese, who has signed a three-year deal at the Bernabeu, was criticised for comments he made after Vinicius accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League tie in February.

Mourinho, Benfica manager at the time, said "something happens, always" in matches where Vinicius plays. Prestianni was banned for six matches after he admitted to using homophobic language towards Vinicius.

However, Mourinho has reportedly made it clear he wants big players like Vinicius to remain at the club. Talks between the player's representatives and Real are continuing and there is said to be a will on both sides for a new contract to be agreed.

But if it isn't, they are likely to cash in this summer to avoid losing him for nothing in a year's time. Arsenal, who have also been linked with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola of PSG, have bolstered their attacking options with the £34m signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.

But bringing in a player of Vinicius' calibre and profile would take their summer business to a completely different level and send a clear message to their Premier League rivals.