Arsenal have received a significant boost in their pursuit of £127m-rated Juventus star Kenan Yildiz, with Bayern Munich reportedly set to step aside in the race for his signature. The news comes as the Gunners look to strengthen their attacking options in the January transfer window.
Yildiz chase gains momentum
Arsenal have been long-standing admirers of the Juventus winger, according to the Mirror. The club made enquiries about the 21-year-old Turkey international during the summer but were told by Juventus that he was not available for transfer.
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich were also reportedly keen on the player, who is valued at £127m. However, German outlet BILD claims Bayern, where Yildiz began his career, will step aside if rival clubs table massive bids. The Bundesliga side are reluctant to admit they made an expensive error by originally releasing him, the report suggests.
Arteta's financial muscle
Arsenal are believed to have the financial strength to match Juventus's valuation, placing them at the front of the queue. The Gunners held back their spending during the summer after both their big-money chases of Vinicius Junior and Julian Alvarez came to nothing.
Yildiz has scored 27 goals in 132 appearances for the Serie A giants and has netted five times for Turkey in 31 outings. Arsenal will welcome French side Lille to North London in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, looking to build on their win away against Napoli last month.
Alvarez earns Simeone praise
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has commended the recent conduct of Julian Alvarez, a player Arsenal had targeted. The Argentine forward was blocked from a move to Barcelona by the club during the summer, despite consistently expressing his wish to leave, which led to him being jeered by his own supporters at the start of the season.
Alvarez even skipped multiple training sessions during the final week of the transfer window while trying to engineer a move to Catalonia. Arsenal had their sights set on him, but while Atletico were open to offers, he was not keen on joining the Gunners. He has since been welcomed back into Simeone's squad and played the entire second half of Saturday's victory over Alaves.
Simeone was impressed by the forward's commitment and effort, saying: "I thought Julian [Alvarez] looked good today. He came on with enthusiasm, eager to do well and help the team. He finished the match well."
Before the match, Simeone had said: "I see him in good shape, enthusiastic, and he has the desire to give everything he has, as he always does. When he is in good shape, he gives us a different dimension in attack."
