Arsenal's £86m Yildiz approach rejected as Gunners make Tonali contact

Arsenal’s summer transfer push has hit an early obstacle after Juventus rejected the Gunners’ approach for winger Kenan Yildiz, with the Italian club making clear in “no uncertain terms” that the Turkey international will not be sold this summer, according to The Athletic.

Yildiz, 24, had been identified as a priority target as Mikel Arteta looks to add a left winger to his squad. The Juventus academy graduate is valued at around £86 million and has drawn widespread admiration for his performances in Serie A, but Arsenal have now been forced to look elsewhere after receiving a flat refusal from Turin.

Alternative targets are already being explored. Nico Williams of Athletic Club, AC Milan’s Rafael Leao, and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola have all been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal cast a wider net.

On a more promising front, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal have made contact in recent days to gauge the availability of Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali. The 26-year-old first emerged as a Gunners target late in the January window, when his interest in a move became known, though no formal offer was submitted at the time.

Should a deal for Tonali come together, he would join a midfield already featuring Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Christian Norgaard. Arteta is understood to view the Italian international as vital squad depth, with Arsenal expected to play around 60 games again next season. Newcastle’s absence from European football could increase Tonali’s desire to leave, though Manchester United are also said to be monitoring the situation.

The activity reflects the ambition Arteta signalled after Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, where he pointed to a lack of game-changers as the decisive factor. The club are reported to be willing to match the approximately £250 million they spent on new players last summer, as they look to build on winning their first Premier League title in 22 years.