Arsenal are working to bring in Mikel Arteta's top transfer target before the window closes
Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates his goal during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and US Cremonese
Kenan Yildiz is not for sale this summer(Image: (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images))
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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal have announced themselves in emphatic fashion this season.
They first put Manchester City to the sword in the Community Shield, before following it up with a 3-0 demolition of Coventry City in their Premier League opener last Friday. That made it two wins from two and six goals scored without reply.
The foundations were already in place prior to this summer. A squad capable of reaching the Champions League final while challenging for the title last term was further strengthened by sporting director Andrea Berta, who has brought in five new faces for a combined fee of £200million. Those signings have already begun to bear fruit.
But Arteta still believes one final piece is missing - a world-class forward - and with the window slamming shut on September 1, time is running short. football.london now brings you the very latest on the English champions' pursuit of priority targets Kenan Yildiz and Julian Alvarez.
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Kenan Yildiz transfer decision
Arsenal's search for a marquee forward has led them to Yildiz, though hopes of prising the Juventus star away from Turin appear to have all but evaporated. The 21-year-old Turkey international has long been on the club's radar and is one of Arteta's dream targets, with the Gunners understood to have been willing to lodge an £85m offer for his signature.
Juventus, however, are refusing to sell. The Italian giants strengthened their grip on the winger in February, when Yildiz put pen to paper on a four-year contract extension, affording the club leverage in any negotiations.
Any remaining hope was shut down by head coach Luciano Spalletti, who was adamant in his stance at a press conference ahead of Juventus' Serie A opener at Frosinone on Sunday. "I am perfectly relaxed, because dealing with Yildiz is easy for me," Spalletti declared.
"They can offer whatever they like, I want Yildiz here and will always put him on the field. He's a perfect lad to talk to, he's mature, and knows he doesn't need to rush anything.
"His future is already important staying at Juventus, not because there are other clubs who want to spend €100m for him. We are all convinced that we can show the total potential of Kenan, and he is a potential phenomenon of football. The fans are convinced too."
Julian Alvarez talks take place
Julian Alvarez during a training session of Atletico de Madrid ahead of the Spanish League, LaLiga EA Sports, football match against Villarreal CF at Ciudad Deportiva Wanda Atletico de Madrid on August 22, 2026, in Madrid, Spain.
Arsenal are still pursuing Julian Alvarez(Image: Europa Press Sports, Europa Press via Getty Images)
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Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal officials held talks with Atletico Madrid in London on Friday over a potential deal for Alvarez, who is seen as Arteta's number one priority this summer. Progress, however, has not been straightforward, with a number of obstacles standing in the Gunners' way.
The 26-year-old has made no secret of his desire to leave Atletico, but has repeatedly stated that a move to Barcelona is his preferred route out of the club. Atletico have been equally firm - they will not consider selling their talisman to a direct La Liga rival, and any approach from Arsenal would need to break the club's transfer record to even stand a chance.
Romano has shed further light on last week's discussions, revealing that Alvarez has not yet closed the door on a move to the English champions, in spite of his Catalan leanings. Arsenal are said to be aware of the complexities involved and are under no illusions about the scale of the fee that would be required.
According to the Italian journalist, the Gunners made it clear during those talks that they want to be kept fully up to date by both club and player as the final days of the window play out - leaving themselves well-positioned to swoop should circumstances change. In the meantime, Alvarez was included in Diego Simeone's squad for Atletico's clash with Villarreal on Sunday, despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding his future.