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Saudi dealmakers are considering a world-record bid for Vinicius Jr, talkSPORT understands.

The Real Madrid winger has publicly stated he wants to stay at the Bernabeu and has been engaged in talks over a new contract.

Vinicius is yet to sign a new contract and Saudi executives are well aware.

Yet nothing is signed and the parties are yet to reach a full agreement.

Both Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid are understood to be calm about the situation, especially given the Brazilian's contract runs until 2027.

Saudi Pro League officials had felt in April that the 25-year-old might extend before the summer window opened, but have been encouraged by the lack of formalisation on a new long-term contract.

Talks with Vinicius about a Saudi Pro League switch have been ongoing for over a year, while senior Saudi executives have been trying to understand the right time to move.

There is a patient approach, with a firm desire to land Vinicius Jr within the next three years.

The lack of progress over a new Real contract is not necessarily an indication one won't be signed soon, but Saudi chiefs are prepared to make a world record offer in the region of €350million [£302m], surpassing the £200m Paris Saint-Germain paid to Barcelona in August 2017.

It follows a failed bid on behalf of Al Hilal to land Kylian Mbappe for €300m [£257m] in July 2023.

Vinicius Jr has also been offered around €1bn [£864m], including bonuses, across a proposed five-year contract sent in writing as a non-binding bid.

Despite his clear public preference to stay at Real, it's understood the door has been left open to going to Saudi at some point in his career.

Whether that's this summer, remains to be seen, and within Saudi there is not yet optimism of success, but a clear desire to try.

The Brazilian is one of the world's most famous players and would be by far Saudi's biggest coup.

Vinicius Jr has been earmarked for Al Ahli.

The reigning Asian Champions League winners are viewed by both the Public Investment Fund [PIF] and the Saudi Ministry of Sport as being 'owed' the next big star.

Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney are both popular, but not viewed as quite in the same category as Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Karim Benzema (Al Ittihad) and Neymar (Al Hilal, prior to this departure to Santos), who each joined one of the other PIF-controlled clubs.

The longer Vinicius Jr's contract talks drag on, the more encouraged and opportunist Saudi will become, and a massive bid this summer is still not ruled out.

Even if Vinicius extends, which was the direction of travel earlier this year, Saudi are still actively working to convince the 25-year-old to move by the 2027/28 season at the latest, believing they can secure him at peak age whether now or in the future.

Madrid initially agreed a £38m agreement for Vinicius in 2017, when he was aged just 16 playing for Brazilian side Flamengo.

Neymar currently boasts the world's record transfer after joining PSG in 2017

The deal came into effect the year later, and the teen then arrived the following summer in 2019.

The fee was second highest received by a Brazilian side, behind only the £49m Barcelona paid Santos for Neymar in 2013, although Madrid's Endrick has since slotted in behind in second.

Vinicius was instantly a first team option at the Bernabeu and experienced his real breakthrough during the 2021/22 season when he registered 22 goals, including a winner against Liverpool in the Champions League final.

cr7lomo:
He isn't even worth half of that ...not 3ven Quater of that

KomGhale:
My first FTC after 7 years of steady trying

I dedicate this FTC to all those who derive no pleasure in life

Ovo200:
Which kind oil money be this

Omo, these Saudi people are rich ooo

KomGhale:
My first FTC after 7 years of steady trying

I dedicate this FTC to all those who derive no pleasure in life

Allee90:
If this Guy refuse the offer, he would have been the dullest person of the century