London club Arsenal paid the price for their ambition to sign Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, according to The Athletic.
The Gunners had high hopes of securing Morgan Rodgers, but the player ultimately made the switch to Chelsea for a significant fee.
Reports suggest that Rodgers felt Arsenal were far more keen on Vinicius, which allowed Chelsea to swoop in and secure his signature.
Inside the Emirates, there was genuine confidence that they could land the Brazilian. The club was prepared to make a hefty financial offer.
However, Vinicius opted to remain in Madrid, where the lifestyle is traditionally appealing to South American stars. Meanwhile, Rodgers seemed a much more realistic target for the current Premier League champions.
Now, Morgan will look to help Xabi Alonso’s side challenge for the title. This season, the Blues aren’t involved in European competitions, providing them with more time to rest and recover.
