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.

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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.

Back in April, officials from the Saudi Pro League were hopeful that the 25-year-old would renew his contract before the summer transfer window. However, they now feel optimistic due to the absence of a formalized long-term agreement.

Discussions about Vinicius potentially joining the Saudi Pro League have been ongoing for more than a year, with key Saudi executives working to determine the most opportune moment to approach the deal.

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

While the delay in finalizing a new contract with Real Madrid doesn’t necessarily mean an agreement won’t be reached soon, Saudi leaders are ready to propose a world-record offer of about €350 million [£302m], which would exceed the £200m that Paris Saint-Germain paid 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.

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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.

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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.