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Arsenal has made Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz its leading target to fill the left-wing position, as manager Mikel Arteta finalizes his squad for a season competing in both the Premier League and the Champions League, according to the Independent.
Arteta has long identified the left side of attack as a priority position to strengthen, with Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr initially seen as the ideal target.
The Brazilian's decision to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu led Arsenal to reconsider its options, with the club reportedly considering waiting until January or next summer when other deals could become possible.
Bournemouth's Junior Kroupi had also been considered, but an injury has removed him from Arsenal's immediate list of potential signings, though he remains an option for the January transfer window.
Yildiz has nevertheless remained high on Arsenal's list of targets, with Arteta said to be especially keen on the Türkiye international. At 21 years old, signing Yildiz would also mark a shift back toward acquiring younger talent, after Arsenal added established players such as Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa and Bruno Guimaraes during the current transfer window.
However, Juventus is not expected to let Yildiz go easily. The Turin club is reportedly seeking a transfer fee of more than £60 million ($81.6 million) and is also wary of a possible backlash from its fan base. One option under discussion is for Arsenal to offer Gabriel Martinelli as part of a swap deal, though this would still require extensive negotiation.
The future of Julian Alvarez also looms over Arsenal's plans. The Argentina forward had been Arsenal's main target after Vinicius Jr, but interest cooled once it became clear he preferred to remain in Spain and join Barcelona instead.
With Atletico Madrid currently unwilling to negotiate with Barcelona, however, there remains a possibility that an opportunity could open up for Arsenal as the transfer window nears its close.
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