Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was desperate to bring him to Arsenal this summer.
Juventus superstar Kenan Yildiz is widely regarded as Mikel Arteta’s number one Arsenal target, and now there has been an update in the search for the striker.
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In a summer where the Gunners spent almost £200 million on five new players, Arteta apparently failed to sign the world-class striker he so desperately wanted.
Arsenal tried ambitious moves for players such as Vinícius Júnior, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, but ultimately failed – and now they are looking to loosen up that part of the squad in January.
Juventus demand at least £84 million for Arsenal and Real Madrid target Kenan Yildiz
Arteta’s priority in the next window is a left-wing winger who could challenge Christos Tzolis. – Tzolis has got off to a flying start since joining the Emirates Stadium from Club Brugge, with an assist on his Premier League debut against Coventry City in August.
But Arsenal’s search for a world-class winger this summer indicated that they wanted someone who could challenge the 24-year-old – and Yildiz is potentially that player.
Arteta sees Yildiz as his dream signing, although his long-term contract and Juventus’ valuation have made a deal difficult to complete.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Italian giant is demanding at least €100 million (£84.7 million) just to consider selling the 21-year-old – and the competition for his signature further complicates matters.
Real Madrid have long admired the Turkish superstar, and the report claims that they could “return” for him next June.
Yildiz is considered in the same category as Manchester City’s Erling Haaland when looking at their next big signing – and unlike Arsenal, who are usually reluctant to pay a premium for a player, money is the least of Real’s “concerns”.
Widely regarded as one of Europe’s best young wingers, Yildiz has 32 goals in 99 Serie A appearances – but he will have to wait to add more.
The light-footed winger underwent surgery after suffering a metatarsal fracture against Frosinone in August, and is expected back on the pitch next month.
Luciano Spalletti thinks Kenan Yildiz “makes football shine”
When fully healthy, Yildiz combines elite-level dribbling and dizzying speed that can destroy defenses.
Playing as a left winger or number 10, the 31-time Turkish international thrives in tight spaces and is at his most dangerous when he cuts in on the right foot.
Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti gave his winger the ultimate compliment by comparing him to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, highlighting their shared attacking flair and sheer unpredictability.
“Yildiz makes football shine. His every move is brilliant and breaks the system.
“When he starts, even he doesn’t necessarily have a plan for what to do next. Sometimes, in training, I see the defenders anticipating his movement, and they still can’t stop him. He has the madness of inventiveness. To me, he is comparable to Kvaratskhelia.”
Spalletti elaborated: “He needs to play a bit more, but I see similarities in the unpredictability, the way he stays outside the rules and the timing you expect in football. He’s a lovely guy, the neighbour boy type, but also a leader – someone who doesn’t need to talk much.”
Yildiz would be a world-class addition for any top club in Europe, and Bayern Munich are also interested in the Juve star.
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