Arsenal have reportedly made contact regarding Sandro Tonali's availability, while Juventus have rejected the Gunners' approach to sign £86m-rated winger Kenan Yildiz this summer.
Arsenal's Transfer Activity Heats Up
Arsenal are orchestrating moves behind the scenes as a hectic summer of transfer business kicks into gear. The transfer window formally opens on June 15, but that has not prevented manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta from already initiating contact. Initial reports suggest the Gunners could be among the most active English sides in the forthcoming months and that they may match the club record £250 million they spent on fresh talent last summer.
Arteta candidly acknowledged as much following their Champions League final loss to PSG, where he pinpointed a shortage of match-winners as the crucial distinction between the two teams on the evening. Daily Star Sport rounds up all the latest stories.
Sandro Tonali Calls Made
Arsenal have allegedly made contact in recent days in a bid to land Sandro Tonali's services. The Newcastle midfielder, 26, surfaced as a transfer prospect late in the January window, when Arsenal were made aware of his desire for a switch, reports the Mirror. A transaction failed to materialise and no formal bid was submitted, but rumours have continued in recent months that the Gunners retain their interest in acquiring Tonali. Now, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal recently reached out to assess his availability.
Should they secure Tonali, he would join an already formidable midfield line-up that includes Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Christian Norgaard. However, Arteta is believed to view Tonali as crucial squad depth. Newcastle's absence from European football could prompt Tonali to seek a move away from Tyneside three years after his arrival. Nevertheless, Manchester United are also reportedly interested in securing the services of the industrious midfielder.
Kenan Yildiz Approach Turned Down
Arteta and Berta have had to scrap their plans to sign Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz. It is clear that Arsenal are prioritising the acquisition of a left winger in the coming months. Yildiz, who carries a price tag of around £86 million, has frequently been mooted as a potential signing, given his stellar performances in Italy in recent seasons. The Athletic reports that the Gunners even made a bid for the Turkey international, only for the Serie A heavyweights to tell them in no uncertain terms that Yildiz is off the market this summer.
Consequently, Arsenal are now considering other options. Other left wingers recently linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium include Athletic Club's Nico Williams, AC Milan's Rafael Leao, and PSG's Bradley Barcola.
