Mikel Arteta is working hard to sign his top target before the transfer window closes.
Kenan Yildiz is not for sale this summer.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have made a strong start to the season. They beat Manchester City in the Community Shield and then defeated Coventry City 3-0 in the opening Premier League match last Friday. This means two consecutive wins without conceding a goal, with a total of six goals scored.
The foundation was laid before this summer. The squad that reached the Champions League final and competed for the league title last season has been further strengthened by sporting director Andrea Berta, who brought in five new players for a total cost of 200 million pounds. These signings are already showing their worth.
But Arteta believes one missing piece remains – a world-class striker – and with the transfer window closing on September 1, time is running out. football.london brings you the latest updates on Arsenal’s priority targets Kenan Yildiz and Julian Alvarez.
Arsenal’s search for a main striker has pointed towards Yildiz, but hopes of prising this Juventus star away from Turin appear to have largely faded. The 21-year-old Turkish international has long been on the club’s radar and represents the ideal target in Arteta’s mind. It is understood Arsenal were willing to pay 85 million pounds for him.
However, Juventus refused to sell. The Italian giants strengthened their grip on him by signing Yildiz to a new four-year contract in February, giving the club the upper hand in any negotiations.
Coach Luciano Spalletti made his position clear at a press conference ahead of Juventus’s Serie A opening match away at Frosinone last Sunday, definitively ending any remaining hopes. Spalletti said he was very relaxed because dealing with Yildiz matters was easy for him. He stated that regardless of any offers, he wanted Yildiz to stay and would always play him. He described the player as very easy to communicate with, very mature, and someone who knows he does not need to rush into anything. Spalletti emphasized that Yildiz’s future remaining at Juventus is important in itself, not because other clubs want to spend 100 million euros on him. He expressed that everyone believes they can show Kenan’s full potential and that he is a potential phenomenon in football. The fans believe this too.
Fabrizio Romano reported that Arsenal officials met with Atletico Madrid in London last Friday to discuss a potential deal for Alvarez. Alvarez is considered Arteta’s top target for this summer. However, progress has not been smooth, with the Gunners facing numerous obstacles.
The 26-year-old player has made no secret of his desire to leave Atletico Madrid, but has repeatedly stated that a move to Barcelona is his preferred destination. Atletico Madrid are equally firm – they will not consider selling their star player to a direct La Liga rival, and Arsenal would need to break the club’s transfer record to have any chance of signing him.
The Italian journalist further revealed details about last week’s talks, noting that despite Alvarez’s preference for Catalonia, he has not completely closed the door on joining the English champions. It is understood Arsenal are aware of the complexities involved and the scale of the transfer fee required.
According to this Italian journalist, Arsenal made it clear during the talks that they hope the club and player would keep them informed of any developments in the final days of the transfer window – so they can be in a strong position to act if circumstances change. Meanwhile, Alvarez was named in Diego Simeone’s squad for Atletico Madrid’s match against Villarreal on Sunday, despite the uncertainty over his future.