Arsenal are targeting a superstar attacker who has reportedly welcomed a move to the Emirates, as Mikel Arteta has made clear his thoughts on one player.
Gunners Interest 'Welcomed'
Kenan Yildiz has had an unhappy summer so far with Turkey already knocked out of the World Cup, but he has reportedly embraced the Gunners' ongoing interest in him, reports the Mirror. The German-born Turkey star, who has been consistently linked with the North London giants, only penned a fresh deal with Juventus in February, binding him to the Turin club until 2030. The attacking midfielder, who bagged 10 goals and registered seven assists in Serie A last season, has been valued at around £87m.
Juve will have hoped that would have silenced rumours surrounding his future. Nevertheless, having missed out on Champions League qualification, they may require a financial boost, and Yildiz is the player who could fetch the highest transfer fee. According to TuttoSport, the Gunners have investigated a potential deal in 'recent weeks' while Yildiz regards the Emirates as a 'welcome destination'. Meanwhile, the Old Lady's majority shareholder, John Elkann, is said to have dismissed Arsenal's overtures out of hand. Yet if circumstances demand it, Juve may feel obliged to offload the 21-year-old.
Real's Position on Calafiori
Real Madrid have performed a U-turn and abandoned plans to sign Riccardo Calafiori after the Gunners placed a huge £86m price tag on the Italian defender. The massive valuation of the versatile 24-year-old is believed to demonstrate that Arteta is reluctant to let him go and that he is firmly in the Spanish coach's thoughts for next season.
One of Europe's most sought-after defenders, Calafiori has drawn attention from Los Blancos, who are reconstructing under Jose Mourinho following a dismal campaign in which they secured no silverware. Nevertheless, Marc Cucurella's £52m move to the Bernabeu, coupled with a £78m offer for Manchester City's Ruben Dias, has consumed a considerable portion of Real's transfer budget.
Despite securing Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on a free transfer, the centre-back's salary will further drain whatever funds remain at Mourinho's disposal. With £130m already allocated, should the Dias transaction proceed, Arsenal's assessment of Calafiori may simply prove prohibitively expensive, especially with reinforcements still needed in other areas of the squad.
