Arsenal are 'actively pursuing' a move for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, as Mikel Arteta looks to rebuild the left-hand side of his team's attack this summer, according to Turkish-Football.
Yildiz enjoyed an outstanding season for the Old Lady in 2025/26, scoring 14 goals and providing ten assists across all competitions. After enduring a difficult World Cup with Turkey, the 21-year-old is now set to weigh up his future as prospective suitors lurk in the hope of landing one of the most prodigious young talents on the continent.
Described as Arteta's dream left-winger target earlier this summer, Yildiz has now been the subject of a formal enquiry from the Gunners.
Juventus aren't keen on sanctioning the Turkish star's departure, and are subsequently said to be demanding around €100 million (£86 million) for his signature.
Arsenal Make Kenan Yildiz Enquiry
Kenan Yildiz
It's clear that Arsenal are intent on moving on from at least one of Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli this summer. Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta want to freshen up this area of the North Londoners' squad, and have drawn up a shortlist of potential candidates to replace one of the aforementioned wide players.
Bradley Barcola has been heavily linked, while it's believed that Morgan Rogers could be used in this position. However, both players are expected to cost a significant fee, and the Gunners' hierarchy are therefore lining up alternatives.
According to Turkish-Football, Arsenal's interest in Yilidz is 'concrete' and the Premier League champions have already approached Juventus about the youngster's availability.
Arsenal executives have intensified their background work around Yildiz since Turkey's World Cup exit, and are now prepared to make a serious push to land the player's services.
It remains to be seen how open Yildiz is to the move, but given Arsenal's status as English champions and near Champions League winners, Arteta should be able to seduece the winger.
That said, Juventus hold leverage in prospective negotiations, given Yilidz signed a new long-term contract in Turin earlier this year, and they value the player at well in excess of €100m (£86m).
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Kenan Yildiz could be a better fit for Arsenal than Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcolavia Reuters
Aston Villa have quoted £130 million for Morgan Rogers, likely making an Arsenal move for the England international untenable.
This leaves Barcola and Yildiz as the Gunners' primary targets for the left wing, and despite the hype around the Frenchman, the Juventus man might be the better fit.
Arteta favoured Trossard over Martinelli for large portions of last season, largely because of what the Belgian offered in possession. Martinelli and Barcola's profiles closely align, with both players excelling in space and in transition.
Meanwhile, Yildiz, described by football analyst Ben Mattinson as 'dangerous' and as a 'future Ballon d'Or winner' by Giuseppe Rossi, is much more comfortable operating in tight spaces and with the ball at his feet, like Trossard.
Thus, it might make more sense for Arsenal to pursue Yildiz instead of Barcola, purely for stylistic reasons.