Arsenal are exploring the possibility of signing Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz before the transfer window closes, as manager Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad for a season in which the club will compete on both the Premier League and Champions League fronts.
The left side of Arsenal's attack has long been earmarked as an area requiring reinforcement, with Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr previously viewed as the club's primary target for that role. However, the Brazilian's decision to remain at the Bernabeu has forced Arsenal to reassess their approach, prompting some internal discussion about whether to delay further action until the January window or even next summer, when alternative deals might become more feasible.
Among the options considered was Bournemouth attacker Jan Kroupi, but a recent injury has effectively ruled out a move for him in the short term, leaving him as a potential target for the winter transfer window instead.
Despite the setback in the Vinicius pursuit, Yildiz has remained near the top of Arsenal's shortlist, with Arteta reportedly a strong admirer of the Turkish international. At 21 years old, Yildiz would represent a departure from Arsenal's recent trend of signing established, prime-age players such as Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes, instead offering the profile of a younger talent with room to develop further.
Any deal, however, would not be straightforward. Juventus are expected to take a firm stance over any potential sale, given Yildiz's status as one of the club's most promising young players. The Italian side are believed to be seeking a fee in excess of £60 million, while also having to weigh the reaction of their own supporters to losing such a key figure from their ranks.
One possible avenue that has been discussed internally at Arsenal involves using Gabriel Martinelli as part of any potential agreement, with the Brazilian winger potentially moving to Turin as part of a swap-style arrangement. Any such deal would still require extensive negotiation between the two clubs before it could be considered realistic.
As with the interest in Kroupi, Arsenal appear open to the idea of waiting for a more opportune moment to pursue Yildiz, rather than rushing into a deal before the current window shuts.
Meanwhile, the situation surrounding Julian Alvarez continues to have an indirect bearing on Arsenal's transfer plans. The Argentine forward had initially been considered Arsenal's leading alternative target after missing out on Vinicius, but interest from the Gunners cooled once it became clear that Alvarez's preference was to remain in Spain, with a move to Barcelona seen as his priority. Complicating matters further is the fact that Atletico Madrid are currently unwilling to conduct any business with Barcelona, a stance that could ultimately work in Arsenal's favor. Should that impasse persist as the window nears its close, there remains a possibility that a fresh opportunity could open up for Arsenal to revisit their interest in Alvarez.
For now, Arsenal's transfer strategy appears to hinge on patience, with the club balancing immediate needs against the long-term value of waiting for the right deal, whether that concerns Yildiz, Kroupi, or a potential late twist involving Alvarez.
Based on reporting from Independent Football.