Arsenal's summer planning is centring on a left-sided forward, with Kenan Yıldız framed as the dream target and Christos Tzolis sitting among the alternatives. Fabrizio Romano has said winger is an absolute priority for Arsenal, while the club are also working through a wider market that could still deliver three or four signings.
Why Yildiz sits at the top of the list
The appeal is easy to see. Yıldız has 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in 2025/26, which is the sort of output that makes a €100 million valuation sound less like fantasy and more like the price of doing business at the top end of the market.
Luciano Spalletti was even more direct after seeing him play as a striker and score. He told givemesport.com: "Yildiz played as the striker and scored. He's an alien, not a normal footballer. Every now and then he does something wrong just to see if he can fit into normality, but he can't. He simply can't become a normal footballer."
That kind of praise does not guarantee a transfer, and Juventus are not being portrayed as ready sellers. But it does explain why Arsenal keep coming back to him when the left wing position is being treated as a priority rather than a nice extra.
The wider summer picture around Arsenal
This is not a one-player chase. Romano said Arsenal could make three or four signings, with winger, striker, midfield and right-back all in play. David Ornstein has also said the left-sided attack has been a big priority for them for years, and that this may be the summer when they really push for it.
That broader picture matters because it changes how the club are operating. Arsenal did win the Premier League title with 82 points, 25 wins, 7 draws and 5 losses, and they also finished top of their Champions League group with 8 wins from 8 and 24 points. Even after that season, the recruitment focus is still on upgrading the left side rather than waiting for the current options to settle the issue on their own.
Romano's latest update also keeps the alternative route live. He said Christos Tzolis is among the names considered, while other reports have kept Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers in the conversation. The direction is clear enough: Arsenal are shopping at the expensive end, and Yıldız is the headline name because he fits both the profile and the fee bracket.
The only real question now is whether the club turn interest into action quickly, or spend much of the window circling a deal that never quite moves from admiration to agreement.
FAQ
Will Arsenal sign Kenan Yildiz this summer?
Arsenal are interested, but no deal has been completed. Reports frame Kenan Yildiz as Mikel Arteta’s dream target, while Christos Tzolis is an alternative and Juventus are not presented as willing sellers.
Why are Arsenal prioritising a left winger in the summer window?
Fabrizio Romano said winger is an absolute priority for Arsenal, and David Ornstein said the left-sided attack has been a big priority for them for years. The club could make three or four signings, with movement also possible in midfield, at striker and right-back.
What makes Kenan Yildiz such an expensive target for Arsenal?
Yildiz has 11 goals and 10 assists in all competitions in 2025/26, which helps explain why reports mention a fee around €100 million. He has also been used as both a wide and central attacking player.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →