Football Daily: Vinícius Júnior and the transfer lull's fantasy world

According to the Guardian's Football Daily, the lull in the football calendar has opened the door to a 'fantasy world of transfers', with Vinícius Júnior at its centre. The Brazilian's new Real Madrid contract is the starting point for a newsletter that finds humour in the gap between club ambition and reality.

To illustrate the point, it recalls Glenn Hoddle's words in 2002 after Tottenham missed out on Rivaldo. Hoddle said Spurs had been close, that an offer was made 'he couldn't refuse' and that the papers should instead be talking about how well the England cricket team were playing. Tottenham's eventual solution was Robbie Keane. The newsletter wonders whether Arsenal, after being linked with Cristian Romero, might be heading down a similar road.

There is also space for Mikel Arteta, who said after Arsenal's 3-1 loss to Betis that 'sometimes it's good to create even more fire in the belly'. One reader jokes that having the squad eat American lettuce would probably be faster. Another appreciates the calendar's design, with 7 August as International Beer Day and 8 August as International Hangover Day.

Finally, a reader challenges the newsletter over its claim of an 'ever-forgiving reader', asking to know who this 'poor, deluded sap' is. The Football Daily does not name him, but invites readers to the full email edition.