26 Sept 2026 19:02 BST |
3 min read
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Arsenal made their desire to sign another left winger clear when they sought to sign Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s side are light in that area of the park having allowed both Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard to leave in the summer, with only Christos Tzolis coming in as a replacement.
It comes as little surprise, then, that rumours are linking Arsenal to Vini Jr alternatives, with Brentford’s Kevin Schade appearing high on their list.
Kevin Schade to Arsenal: The background to the rumour
Schade is wanted by several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Liverpool, according to Sky Sports.
The 24-year-old is entering the final two years of his deal with the London club, and though several of England’s biggest clubs are tracking the attacker, the Gunners and the Reds are described as ‘the keenest’.
Brentford have responded by opening contract talks over an extension for the player but with such big clubs prepared to offer him the chance of a move either in January or the summer of 2027, the Bees’ task will not necessarily be straightforward.
No transfer fee has been suggested, though Schade has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €36.8m (£31.6m).
Arsenal transfer target Schade has huge potential
Schade is regarded as a leading left winger, according to data analytics experts SciSports. He is ranked 14th in the world in the position by the company based on their SciSkill measurement, which gives players a rating based on in-game data points.
In the short term, he represents a marginal downgrade on Trossard. Schade is given a rating of 107.3 compared to the Belgian’s 108.5, but the key detail is in what he might become.
With a potential of 120.5, Schade’s best level is significantly higher than Vini Jr’s current ability (113.3) and not too far from that upper limit the data experts predict the Brazilian will reach (122.9).
Among players aged 24 or under, only a handful are rated as having higher potential. Included in this number are Bradley Barcola, Jamie Gittens and Jeremy Doku, who may develop into a legitimate target for Arsenal after the Premier League reportedly found Manchester City guilty of 114 charges.
How Schade compares to Vini Jr
Schade’s profile as a winger is very different to Vini Jr. While both post above-average numbers in terms of xG, shots and take-ons, the Brazilian is clearly a more creative force for his side.
But what the Real Madrid star does not provide is the type of defensive effectiveness that the Brentford star guarantees. For Arteta, this is important.
Schade rated among the best wingers in the Premier League last season when it came to open-play disruption and transition forcing, highlighting an elite ability to help his side win the ball back. He is also strong defending set pieces and handy when quelling counterattacks, offering defensive security to his side.
Meanwhile, with three goals in the first five games of the Premier League season, he is showing signs of improving his attacking output, which has so far limited him to a career-best 13 goal contributions in a league season.
Schade may not have Vini Jr’s star quality, but Arteta’s Arsenal have shown that the important thing to secure Premier League success is the team as a whole, and the German would appear to have all the attributes to fit neatly in north London.
