Arsenal and Chelsea were reportedly keen on signing 20-year-old Turkish attacking sensation Kenan Yildiz from Juventus in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Italian outlet Tuttosport, Arsenal and Chelsea were interested in signing Kenan Yildiz in the summer transfer window. The two London giants tested the waters in June over a possible move for the Juventus attacking sensation. However, the Serie A giants were unwilling to part ways with the Turkish international, and they want to tie him to a new contract that increases his annual salary from €1.5 million to terms that eventually reach €5 million.
Kenan Yildiz and his rise at Juventus
Kenan Yildiz has established himself as one of the most promising young prospects in Serie A since breaking into the first-team squad at Juventus. The Regensburg native spent most of his formative years in Germany and rose in prominence during his spell with Bayern Munich, which helped him earn interest from several European bigwigs before Juventus secured his services three years ago.
The 20-year-old broke into the first-team squad at Juventus at the onset of the 2023/24 season, and he has made considerable progress since then. Yildiz has made nearly 100 appearances thus far for the Serie A club while chipping in with 16 goals and 13 assists.
Meanwhile, Yildiz’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several European bigwigs again. Premier League clubs, in particular, have been keen on signing the Turkish international for a long time, with Arsenal Chelsea among the prospective suitors that vied for his signature heading in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal and Chelsea failed to sign Yildiz this summer
Arsenal’s interest in Kenan Yildiz was understandable, as Mikel Arteta was keen on adding more firepower to his squad’s offensive unit in the summer transfer window. The North London club succeeded in doing that, as Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze arrived in big-money moves. However, Yildiz was also a viable target due to his age profile and versatility.
As for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca was also keen on adding more firepower in the final third, with the West London club keen on having two top-class options for each position. The Blues bolstered their offensive unit by signing Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens, and Facundo Buonanotte. However, Chelsea failed with an attempt to sign Yildiz, who could have been a multi-faceted attacking solution.
While Yildiz’s €1.5 million-a-year wages made him an appealing target for Arsenal and Chelsea, the two London giants could not convince Juventus to part ways with the 20-year-old Turkish international. Meanwhile, the Serie A giants want to tie him to a bumper new contract, taking his annual salary from €1.5 million to up to €5 million.
