Juventus star ready to force £120m Arsenal switch after Vinicius Junior snub

Arsenal have reportedly received a significant boost in their ongoing pursuit of Juventus attacker Yildiz. The Turkey international has shown himself to be an exciting prospect with a series of eye-catching displays in Serie A. He is now set to inform the Italian giants that he actively wants to join the Gunners this summer.

According to Indy Kaila, the 21-year-old is eager to secure a transfer to north London and will communicate his definitive desire to the Juventus hierarchy. Despite the player's clear stance, completing a deal will not be straightforward. The Serie A club have slapped a massive £120 million asking price onto his head, which could seriously test Arsenal's financial resolve.

This is certainly not the first time Yildiz has been strongly linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium. Sky journalist Sacha Tavolieri previously described the talented youngster as Mikel Arteta’s absolute "dream target".

Furthermore, The Athletic have previously reported that Arsenal made a formal enquiry regarding the 21-year-old's availability, only to be firmly told by Juventus that he was strictly not for sale. However, the player's reported desire to leave could now completely change the landscape of the negotiations.

This development clearly seems like something to watch closely for Arsenal supporters, especially after the recent news that top target Vinicius Junior has officially signed a new long-term contract with Real Madrid this week.

When looking at the potential impact of Yildiz at the Emirates, the numbers suggest he would provide a significant boost to a frontline that has occasionally lacked clinical efficiency. Analysis from WhoScoredhighlights the youngster as being very strong on dribbling, as well as strong on finishing and key passes.

In terms of raw output, Yildiz enjoyed a standout 2025/26 season, finishing the campaign with 11 goals and nine assists in all competitions. This level of production has led many to believe he would be a clear upgrade over Gabriel Martinelli, whose form has been described as inconsistent over the past twelve months.

It will now be fascinating to see if securing Yildiz does indeed end up being Arsenal’s absolute priority for the remainder of the summer transfer window. If the £120m valuation proves too prohibitive, the club hierarchy may be forced to explore other high-profile avenues.

We could instead see the Gunners attempting to re-join the fiercely competitive race for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The Independent have suggested that Arsenal remain heavily interested in the talented Frenchman. However, any pursuit of Barcola will likely face stiff competition, as the PSG forward has been more strongly linked with a blockbuster move to Premier League rivals Liverpool in recent times.