Arsenal target £206m Yildiz and Alvarez as Arteta hunts late window additions

Arsenal are targeting Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez as Mikel Arteta looks to add a high-profile forward before the transfer window closes on September 1, according to The Athletic. The two players carry a combined asking price of around £206m, with Yildiz valued at approximately £86m and Alvarez expected to cost north of £120m.

The Gunners have already spent close to £150m this summer, bringing in Piero Hincapie, Illan Meslier, Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes. Having secured Tzolis, Arsenal are not treating the addition of another forward as urgent. Instead, the club’s strategy is to monitor the market and move only if one of their primary targets becomes attainable in the final stretch of the window.

The Athletic reports that while there has been a strong focus on the left wing, Arsenal retain flexibility over the exact position their next signing will fill, depending on availability. The club had previously pursued Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior without success before attention shifted to Yildiz and Alvarez as the leading long-term options.

Yildiz recently signed a contract extension at Juventus, which complicates any potential deal, while Alvarez’s situation at Atletico Madrid has attracted significant speculation throughout the summer. Barcelona have also been linked with the Argentine, who joined Atletico from Manchester City last year.

Atletico manager Diego Simeone confirmed this week that Alvarez will not feature in his side’s La Liga opener against Malaga due to a lack of match fitness. When asked about the 26-year-old’s availability, Simeone told reporters: “I still think the same way. I take care of the sporting side.”

To fund further incomings, Arsenal are expected to sanction several departures before the deadline. Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Jesus and Myles Lewis-Skelly have all been mentioned as players who could leave the club in the coming fortnight.

Arteta’s side opened the 2026/27 season by beating Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield, and face Coventry City in their Premier League opener on Friday.