Arsenal’s weekend defeat to Aston Villa has intensified their search for attacking reinforcements, with Juventus starlet Kenan Yildiz emerging as a prime January target for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal Turn Attention to Turkish Sensation
The Gunners’ recent stumble at Villa Park, coupled with a draw against Chelsea, has left Manchester City breathing down their necks in the Premier League title race. With just two points separating the sides, Arteta is reportedly desperate to bolster his left-wing options to inject fresh creativity and goal threat into his squad.
According to respected Serie A journalist Gianni Balzarini, Arsenal have made initial enquiries with Juventus about the 20-year-old Turkish international. The timing couldn’t be more interesting – Yildiz finds himself in a contract standoff with the Bianconeri over wage demands, potentially opening the door for a Premier League switch.
Juventus have slapped an eye-watering £87 million price tag on their young talent, but given Arsenal’s willingness to splash the cash in recent transfer windows, matching that valuation wouldn’t be completely out of the question for the Emirates hierarchy.
January Deal Faces Major Obstacles
However, securing Yildiz’s signature in January presents significant challenges. Juventus are firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification and will be reluctant to part with such a crucial player mid-season, particularly with considerable time remaining on his current deal.
There’s another complicating factor too. With Turkey potentially qualifying for next summer’s World Cup, Juve hope Yildiz’s performances in North America could push his valuation closer to the £100 million mark – making a summer sale far more attractive financially.
While Arsenal may explore alternative options like Real Madrid’s Rodrygo Goes, all signs suggest Yildiz remains their primary long-term target heading into the summer transfer window.