Arsenal readying early offer to sign the next Arshavin in £44m Chelsea target

The flame may not have burned brightly for long, but there’s no denying what Andrey Arshavin was in an Arsenal shirt – a game-changer.

At a time when the Gunners are now crying out for individual flair and invention in the forward line, the Russian maverick was certainly that in his early Emirates career, having joined just a matter of months on from a sparkling Euro 2008.

27 at the time, he had never played outside of his homeland prior to making the switch on a £15m deal in January 2009, yet the fleet-footed winger immediately hit the ground running, scoring six in his first 12 league games, before adding ten the following season.

Such early highs weren’t to be maintained, but the now 44-year-old secured cult hero status regardless, something Arsenal’s latest, left-field target could look to achieve if a deal is to be struck.

Arsenal readying first summer bid for £44m sensation

Whether or not this season ends in glory, the plan appears to be clear at the Emirates under Andrea Berta. Sign at least one new forward.

Be it on the left or right flank, the Gunners appear in need of significant upgrade, having seen their Champions League and Premier League surge largely carried by their defensive and midfield might this season.

Among those tipped to make the switch has been AC Milan’s Rafael Leao in recent weeks, with the Portuguese speedster having seemingly been a long-term target for the north London.

Elsewhere, however, further reports have indicated that the Gunners could actually be ready to make a concrete, ‘official’ offer for another attacking talent, in the form of Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz.

As per Turkish journalist Kaya Temel, Arsenal plan to lodge a bid when the season comes to an end, potentially keen to strike a deal before Yilmaz heads off to the World Cup with Turkey.

In terms of price tag, it has been in recent months that the Super Lig side would be looking for a fee of around £44m, amid rival interest from the likes of Chelsea.

Why Yilmaz could be the next Arshavin at Arsenal

With the Blues having sent scouts to watch Yilmaz in action this season by all accounts, there could be an interesting parallel to Arshavin’s own arrival in England, with the Russian having been a key target for Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea back in 2008.

It was Arsenal who ultimately won that race, however, with Arshavin going on to score 31 goals in 144 games for the Gunners, including that four goal haul against Liverpool at Anfield.

With his low centre of gravity, devastating dribbling prowess and elite goalscoring ability, the now 44-year-old was such a threat in his pomp, proving such a handful all across the frontline.

Bringing Yilmaz into the fold would certainly feel like a repeat in that sense, with the Turkey international also a real livewire in his own right, having been likened to Gareth Bale, such is his blistering speed and acceleration.

Like Arshavin, the 25-year-old has only played in his homeland to date, joining his current side in the summer of 2021 and emerging as a real centrepiece for the Istanbul outfit since then.

Typically deployed off the left but comfortable in the centre or on the opposite flank, much like Arshavin, the £44m-rated talent has enjoyed another stellar season at Gala, racking up 27 goals and assists in 47 games in all competitions.

That includes 19 goal involvements in the Super Lig alone, while his total tally for the club stands at 72 goals and assists in 203 games, mirroring Arshavin as both a provider and a goalscorer from the flanks.

He is something of an assist machine, ensuring he could be the perfect addition to get the likes of Viktor Gyokeres firing alongside him, having created chances galore again this season.

In the Turkish top-flight, Yilmaz has created ten ‘big chances’ and averages 1.9 key passes per game in 2025/26.

For comparison, only Declan Rice has reached double figures (16) for ‘big chances’ created back at Arsenal, while only Rice (1.9) and Bukayo Saka (2.0) can match or better Yilmaz’s record for key passes.

That highlights why Berta and co are pursuing what could be seen as something of a left-field move, with it seemingly worth the risk despite the winger’s lack of experience outside of Turkey.

Who knows, he could be the next cult figure to emerge, just like Arshavin before him.