Report: Arsenal set to battle Chelsea in the race to sign Serie A forward | OneFootball

Yıldız Contract Standoff Opens Door For Premier League Giants

Talks Stall Amid Rising European Interest

Kenan Yıldız has become one of the most coveted young attackers in Europe and Caught Offside’s reporting indicates that his future is increasingly uncertain. Juventus began negotiations earlier this season with the intention of tying the 20-year-old to a long-term deal, yet discussions have halted. Sources close to the agents industry told Caught Offside that the forward’s representatives are asking for “around €6 million per year”, a figure Juventus deem too steep within their current financial strategy.

Yıldız has registered three goals and four assists this season, continuing a rise that has attracted Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. Juventus, wrestling with budget constraints and a measured rebuild, have paused talks but remain adamant the young attacker is central to their project.

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Juve Face Pressure As Valuation Soars

Caught Offside’s sources add that Juventus will not allow Yıldız to leave on favourable terms, with any move expected to exceed €100 million. This valuation serves both as a deterrent and a signal of how highly the club regard his potential. One source emphasised that Juventus “see him as a future star capable of anchoring their attack for the next decade”. Yet if an agreement cannot be reached, the Turin hierarchy know that Europe’s elite are ready to act.

Premier League Clubs Ready To pounce

Arsenal’s interest is long-standing. Caught Offside report that Mikel Arteta admires Yıldız’s versatility, with the London club exploring ways to add further quality to both flanks. Arsenal believe the Turkish forward could complement their existing attackers while adding unpredictability in the final third.

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Chelsea, in the middle of an aggressive rebuild, also remain firmly in the race. With several forwards facing uncertain futures, the club view Yıldız as a player who can contribute immediately while offering long-term upside. A source told Caught Offside that his ability to operate across multiple attacking roles “fits perfectly with the club’s recruitment vision”.

Juventus want the player to stay, the player wants recognition in the form of a new contract and Europe’s biggest sides see an opportunity forming. Whether this saga concludes with renewal, an enormous fee or a prolonged standoff hinges on Juventus’s willingness to adjust their proposal and how far the Premier League’s contenders are prepared to push.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

This report feels like the beginning of something significant. Yıldız’s name has been circulating for months, but the revelation that contract talks have stalled suddenly makes the idea of prising him away from Juventus more realistic. For fans of either London club, this is exactly the sort of window-opening moment that sparks imagination.

Arsenal fans will see a natural fit. The team have needed an additional creative force who can break tight defences, drift between lines and score from wide areas. With his versatility and technical sharpness, Yıldız mirrors the kind of profile Arteta thrives with. Supporters will feel encouraged that interest is credible and that Juventus’s hesitation may be Arsenal’s opportunity.

Chelsea fans, meanwhile, will view him as the type of talent that fits the long-term project. The club’s recruitment has focused on high-ceiling attackers who can grow into elite performers. Yıldız meets that brief perfectly. His ability to operate centrally, from the left or the right makes him especially appealing at Stamford Bridge, where tactical flexibility is prized.

Both fanbases will be energised by the €100 million valuation. While high, it signals two things, ambition from Juventus and potential accessibility for clubs with strong financial power. Premier League sides have paid comparable sums for emerging stars in recent years, making the figure less prohibitive than it may appear.

There is also the thrill of outmanoeuvring Real Madrid, a club that rarely lose auctions for top young talent. For fans of Arsenal and Chelsea, that adds competitive intrigue. Whether either club wins the race or not, the very fact that Yıldız could be available creates expectation, excitement and a sense that the January or summer window might bring a transformative addition.