Arsenal are favourites to sign Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, according to reports in the Italian media.
The Turkish international has been locked in talks over a contract extension with Juve but Tuttosport (via TMW) report that discussions have begun to “stall”.
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Yildiz is keen to receive a substantial wage rise but he also wants key assurances about Juve’s ambitions going forward.
The Bianconeri have not won a league title in five and a half years, and they have gone through several coaches during that time as well.
Why Arsenal are in pole position for the player
While the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are also said to be interested in Yildiz, TMW have suggested that the Gunners are currently “ahead” in the race for the 20-year-old.
They don’t give much detail about why the Gunners are the front runners but they suggest that the player himself would prefer a switch to the Emirates.
If that is true then there is the potential for Mikel Arteta‘s side to sign one of Europe’s brightest young talents in the near future.
Yildiz won’t move in January
Speaking on his ‘Here We Go’ podcast earlier this week, journalist Fabrizio Romano made it very clear that the forward would not be moving teams before the end of the season:
“I think there is a 0% chance to see Kenan Yildiz leaving Juventus in the January transfer window. Kenan Yildiz is fully focused on Juventus, he’s the number 10, he’s the star of the squad, so no chance for him to leave.”
However, if contract talks don’t progress over the coming months, sharks will begin to circle, and it appears Arsenal will be at the front of the queue to snap up Yildiz if he becomes available.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here