Arsenal is going head-to-head with Real Madrid to sign Mikel Arteta’s top choice who truly makes football exciting.
Juventus star Kenan Yildiz is seen as Mikel Arteta’s top target for Arsenal, and there’s a new update on their chase for the young forward.
Although Arsenal spent nearly £200 million on five new players this summer, Arteta didn’t land the world-class forward he really wanted. The club tried to sign big names like Vinicius Junior, Lautaro Martinez, and Julian Alvarez but missed out. Now, they’re hoping to strengthen that spot in January.
Arteta’s main focus next window is finding a left-sided winger to compete with Christos Tzolis. Tzolis has made a great start since joining from Club Brugge, scoring an assist on his Premier League debut against Coventry City. But Arsenal clearly want someone to match or even challenge the young 24-year-old. That’s where Yildiz comes in.
Arteta sees Yildiz as the perfect signing, but his long contract with Juventus and high price tag have made things tricky. Reports say Juventus want at least €100 million (£84.7 million) to even think about selling the 21-year-old, and there’s plenty of competition for him. Real Madrid are huge fans of Yildiz and might make a move for him next June.
Yildiz is often compared to top talents like Manchester City’s Erling Haaland when clubs look for big signings. Unlike Arsenal, who usually don’t want to overspend, money isn’t a big worry for Real Madrid.
Known as one of the best young wingers in Europe, Yildiz has been involved in 32 goals in 99 Serie A games. Unfortunately, he’s been out since August after fracturing his metatarsal in a match against Frosinone and had surgery. He’s expected to be back next month.
When fit, Yildiz is a lightning-fast winger with incredible dribbling skills who can easily destroy defenses. He plays well on the left wing or as an attacking midfielder, thrives in tight spaces, and is most dangerous when cutting inside onto his right foot.
Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti praised Yildiz, even comparing him to Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia because of their flair and unpredictability. He said, “Yildiz makes football shine. His moves are so creative and hard to predict, even defenders who try to guess what he’ll do next can’t stop him. He has a kind of madness when inventing on the pitch.”
Spalletti added that Yildiz needs more game time but shares the same unpredictable style as Kvaratskhelia. He described Yildiz as a nice, down-to-earth guy and a quiet leader.
Yildiz would be a fantastic signing for any top European club, and Bayern Munich are also interested in this Juventus star.