Arsenal re-join race for wonderkid 'more talented than Ronaldo'

Cameron Smith

28 Oct 2024 09:30 GMT
3 min read

Arsenal have reportedly rekindled their interest in Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yildiz as Mikel Arteta pushes for forward reinforcements in 2025.

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The Gunners were heavily linked with Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres and Nico Williams during the summer transfer window, but they were only able to finalise a loan deal for Chelsea outcast Raheem Sterling.

However, Arsenal are set to re-enter the market for at least one new forward next summer, with a striker and a winger among their list of transfer priorities.

Yildiz was linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium earlier this year and the north London club have now re-entered the race to sign him, according to CaughtOffside.

Although the 19-year-old has mostly been deployed as a left winger since breaking into the Juventus first-team, Arsenal view him as a possible back-up option to Bukayo Saka, who has been severely overworked over the past few years.

However, Arsenal will face competition from Premier League rivals Liverpool, with Arne Slot’s side also eyeing a move for Yildiz as they prepare for Mohamed Salah’s departure on a free transfer.

Yildiz has become a regular under new boss Thiago Motta and he scored his first Serie A goals of the campaign with a brace off the bench against Inter on Sunday evening.

The Turkey international was introduced with Juve trailing 4-2 in the Derby d’Italia, but he netted a late double to earn a crucial point for the Old Lady as they seek to win the Scudetto for the first time since 2020.

Kenan Yildiz: Better than Cristiano Ronaldo?

Yildiz made the bold choice to leave Bayern Munich for Juventus in 2022, however his recent rise in Turin suggests that he made the right decision.

The 19-year-old has been widely praised by Motta and his predecessor Massimiliano Allegri, while Soykan Basar, the technical director of Turkey’s U19 side, recently claimed: “Kenan is more talented than Cristiano Ronaldo - his technique with the ball at his feet is superior to that of the Portuguese.”