Arsenal is in negotiations to acquire a £65m star, but Chelsea is also in a strong position to finalize the deal.
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea and Arsenal are competing for the signing of Juventus’ versatile forward, Kenan Yildiz.
Since his transfer to Turin on a free from Bayern Munich in 2022, Yildiz has been earning relatively low wages compared to many of his teammates, even though he has become one of Juventus’ key match-winners since last season.
He made his debut as a substitute on 20 August 2023 during the 3–0 victory against Udinese at the Stadio Friuli, and he scored on his first start on 23 December, netting the opener in the Bianconeri’s 2–1 win over Frosinone.
Since then, Yildiz has not only established a prominent role in the team but has also emerged as one of Europe’s most promising young forwards, a fact highlighted by his inclusion on the shortlist for the 2025 Golden Boy Award.
His upward trend has persisted this season, with the teenager netting six goals and providing six assists in 21 matches across all competitions for the Bianconeri, which has naturally drawn the attention of top clubs across Europe.
In the Premier League, CaughtOffside indicates that Chelsea and Arsenal are at the forefront of the pursuit for Yildiz, whose contract negotiations with Juventus are currently stalled.
For Chelsea, the report states that the Club World Cup champions are still interested in the 20-year-old after their £61m bid was turned down last summer.
Enzo Maresca’s team sees the versatile forward as a suitable candidate for their youth-focused, long-term investment strategy and believes they are in a favorable position to secure his transfer due to their strong ties with his agent, Jorge Mendes.
Conversely, Arsenal remains ‘firmly in contention’ for the young talent and is ready to take action, having been in direct communication with the player’s agent, highlighting his technical skills as an excellent match for Mikel Arteta’s system.
Although Yildiz’s reported salary expectations of £5m per year align with the Blues’ performance-based pay framework, Juventus is expected to request a fee exceeding his £65m valuation on Transfermarkt.
This situation benefits Arsenal, as Chelsea seems to have shifted away from excessive spending on players, having previously opted out of negotiations to acquire Xavi Simons and Victor Osimhen.
