Manchester City is reportedly making a significant push to acquire highly-rated Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, with manager Pep Guardiola said to be thoroughly impressed by the young Turk’s burgeoning talent. According to a report from Spanish outlet Fichajes, City has emerged as the frontrunner in the race for Yildiz, who has quickly become one of Europe’s most sought-after prospects.
City’s new director of football, Hugo Viana, has already overseen a busy transfer window, bringing in Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Marcus Bettinelli for a combined fee of approximately £110 million. However, it appears the Premier League champions are far from finished with their summer recruitment drive.
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Yildiz, 20, joined Juventus on a free transfer from the Bayern Munich academy in 2022. After breaking into the first team last season, his performances have reached new heights in the current 2024/2025 campaign. The young forward has been instrumental in Juventus’s strong showing in the Club World Cup, where they have already qualified for the last 16. His impressive contributions include a goal in their 5-0 victory over Al Ain and a two-goal, one-assist performance in a 4-1 win against Wydad.
Guardiola and Manchester City will have a direct opportunity to scout Yildiz when their team faces Juventus in the Club World Cup on Thursday, in a match that will determine the top spot in Group G.
The Fichajes report highlights Yildiz’s “ability to unbalance, his vision, and maturity” as qualities that have particularly captivated Guardiola, leading him to reportedly greenlight a move for the player. Manchester City’s board is said to have already initiated “concrete movements” to secure his services, prepared to “spare no effort” to finalize the transfer.
The proposed economic package for Yildiz is reportedly around €90 million (approximately £76 million), a figure that underscores both City’s strong desire and the player’s rapidly ascending market value. While Juventus is understandably reluctant to part with one of its most prized assets, the report suggests that financial considerations could ultimately sway their decision.