Arsenal reportedly pursuing Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz and Georgia’s Andria Bartishvili
Arsenal are reportedly exploring a potential deal for Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz as the club aims to strengthen its attacking options. This interest comes as manager Mikel Arteta seeks to finalise his transfer plans for the upcoming season, which includes campaigns in both the Champions League and Premier League.
The club has identified the left side of the attack as a key area for reinforcement. Initially, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr was considered an ideal target, but his decision to remain at the Bernabeu prompted Arsenal to re-evaluate their strategy. There was also consideration given to waiting until future transfer windows, such as January or next summer, for other opportunities to emerge.
Pursuit of Kenan Yildiz
Kenan Yildiz has been a prominent name on Arsenal’s target list, with Arteta reportedly keen on the Turkish international. The 21-year-old‘s age aligns with a strategy to sign developing talents, contrasting with recent acquisitions of players considered to be in their prime, such as Ezri Konsa and Bruno Guimaraes.
Reports indicate that a move to the Emirates would appeal to Yildiz. However, securing a deal for the forward presents a significant challenge, as he signed a new long-term contract with Juventus earlier this year. Juventus reportedly views Yildiz as untouchable during the current transfer window and would seek upwards of £60m for his transfer, also needing to consider potential fan reaction.
One potential solution that has been suggested involves Gabriel Martinelli moving in the opposite direction. While this could facilitate negotiations, it would still require considerable discussion between the two clubs. Arsenal’s recruitment department reportedly places Yildiz in a similar category to Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea earlier this summer after Arsenal had shown interest.
Despite the difficulties, Arsenal remains determined to add a new left-sided attacking option, having already missed out on several key targets, including Vinicius Junior and Yan Diomande. The club’s fresh enquiry underscores their continued interest in the Turkey international, even as they explore alternative options.
Interest in Andria Bartishvili
In parallel, Arsenal has also reportedly made a pre-contract offer for Georgia Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili. The 17-year-old attacker has drawn comparisons to his compatriot, Paris St-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, due to similar attacking attributes.
Arsenal’s interest in Bartishvili has intensified, with the aim of bringing him to London towards the end of the year, once his contract with parent club FC Kolkheti expires. The move for Bartishvili has been spearheaded by Andrea Berta’s assistant, Maurizio Micheli, who is credited with discovering Kvaratskhelia during his tenure as chief scout at Napoli.
Sources close to the player suggest that Bartishvili, currently on loan at Iberia 1999, is considering multiple options and has yet to decide on his next career step. Other prominent clubs, including Liverpool and Juventus, are also reported to be interested in the young talent. Any move to Arsenal or another Premier League club would necessitate the required international clearance.
Arsenal is set to commence the defence of their Premier League title on Friday evening, hosting newly-promoted Coventry City at Emirates Stadium.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
