Arsenal target Kenan Yildiz as Juventus face pressure to sell after Champions League miss

Arsenal are monitoring Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz as a primary summer transfer target, with reports from Belgium claiming the Premier League champions are prepared to spend £86 million to secure the 21-year-old Turkey international. Mikel Arteta is said to regard Yildiz as his dream signing as he looks to reshape Arsenal’s attack ahead of next season.

Yildiz’s availability has sharpened after Turkey were eliminated from the 2026 World Cup at the group stage, losing both of their matches. The former Bayern Munich academy product had started the tournament on the bench before breaking into Vincenzo Montella’s starting eleven for Turkey’s final two games, but the early exit means he can now turn his full attention to his club situation.

The Juventus playmaker, who can operate as an attacking midfielder or a winger, produced 14 goals and 10 assists last season — though none came after the March international break. He signed a contract extension with Juventus in February that runs until 2030, but the Turin club’s sixth-place finish in Serie A, which left them outside the Champions League places, has forced a rethink on their transfer strategy.

Departing Juventus CEO Damien Comolli told Italian outlet La Repubblica earlier this month that the club would need to sell “one more player than planned”. When asked directly whether that player could be Yildiz, Comolli replied: “Certainly not” — though his own exit from the role adds uncertainty to that assurance.

Arsenal’s interest in Yildiz is part of a broader rebuild of their attacking options. Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard have all entered the final year of their contracts and could be sold, making a new left winger a clear priority. Yildiz sits on Arsenal’s shortlist alongside Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola, and Christos Tzolis.

Liverpool and Real Madrid have also been linked with the Turkey international, meaning Arsenal face significant competition. Gunners co-chairman Josh Kroenke has already signalled the club’s intent to invest following their Premier League title win. “We’re going to look to strengthen because we know teams around us are going to get better,” Kroenke said.