Arsenal are making a serious push to steal Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid this summer transfer window as Los Merengues struggle to sign the Brazilian superstar to a contract extension. Vini could leave for free to Arsenal or any other club in the world in January, and if Real can't strike an agreement around the hefty bonuses and increase in image rights percentage that Vini wants to put him closer to Kylian Mbappe in stature, then Real may be forced to sell.
As the Premier League champions dream of bringing the unique talent that is Vinicius Jr. to English football, it's fair to wonder, just how good would Vini be in the Premier League? And would he immediately be the league's best player? Here is how he stacks up with the current top 10.
10. Manchester City AM Rayan Cherki
Rayan Cherki is highly inconsistent and still has a long way to go before he is considered any higher than 10th on the list, but he is undoubtedly the most skilled creator in the league and can pull off moves others can only dream of. He had 12 assists in under 1,800 Premier League minutes in his debut season in the toughest league in the world.
9. Manchester United AM Bruno Fernandes
Although Bruno Fernandes had 21 assists and was the Player of the Season, the Manchester United playmaker still has to prove that he can bring it in the biggest games against the biggest opponents. The 2026 World Cup really exposed how lacking he is on the big stage and when he isn't able to hold a monopoly over possession. But make no mistake, he is one of the best in the business at creating chances.
8. Liverpool CB Virgil van Dijk
Now 35 years old, Virgil van Dijk is on his last legs, but it would be crazy to not consider him one of the best center backs on the planet. His mind and passing skills are as sharp as ever.
7. Chelsea AM Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer plummets outside the top five after a difficult season that made the Ballon d'Or shouts look ridiculous, but with Xabi Alonso now coaching Chelsea and ready to make him his very own Florian Wirtz, the rest of the league better watch out.
6. Arsenal CB Gabriel Magalhaes
Gabriel Magalhaes was the best center back of the 2025/26 Premier League season, and while his Dark Arts are frequently exposed by superior players like striker Erling Haaland both in English football and in the World Cup, there is still no doubt that he is a top center back.
5. Arsenal RW Bukayo Saka
Nobody is comparing Bukayo Saka to Vinicius Junior these days, but the Arsenal right winger has honestly become underrated. He isn't a great enough athlete in one on ones to be the main superstar of a team, but with his hard work, unselfishness, and technical quality as a passer and shooter, there aren't many better Robins than Saka in world football.
4. Arsenal CB William Saliba
The back issues are troubling, but William Saliba is still an absolute menace defensively and can sweep up so many issues with his quick feet and even quicker footballing brain. Any of the players in the top four have a case for being No. 1, including Saliba.
3. Arsenal DM Declan Rice
Declan Rice could still be doing more to push Arsenal forward with ball progression and has a tendency to be lacking against elite opponents, but for 95 percent of the games, he exhibits total control and is Arsenal's most important player. Once Rodri leaves for Real Madrid, Rice will be, bar none, the best in his position in the Premier League.
2. Manchester City ST Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland nearly carried Manchester City to the Premier League title with 27 goals and 8 assists, and for a guy who has to spend so much time in the opponent's penalty area to finish off the chances, he still does an exquisite job of working hard for the team and even creating for his teammates. If anything, Haaland's 2025/26 Premier League contributions were underrated.
1. Arsenal LW Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior vs. Erling Haaland is a close argument, and the latter did knock the former out of the World Cup. But Vini Jr. is a two time Champions League winner and had the second most goals in club football when the calendar flipped to 2026 behind only Bayern Munich No. 9 Harry Kane. Vini Jr. is an electrifying dribbler who can progress, create, and score, and he is more proven than any other forward in the Champions League knockouts since 2021. That's what makes him No. 1; he can impact games, including the biggest games, in more ways than the others.
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