Arsenal on red alert as dream left winger gets 'squandered talent' message

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Juventus run the risk of “squandering” the talent of Arsenal-linked Kenan Yildiz by not signing better players to support him, according to reports in Italy.

Yildiz is developing a reputation as one of the best wingers in the Europe having registered 27 goals and 21 assists for Juventus at the age of just 21.

Such has been the form of Yildiz in Serie A that Arsenal are believed to hold a genuine interest in signing him, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners were reportedly tracking Yildiz in the summer transfer window but Italian heavyweights Juventus had no appetite to sell their star forward.

But Gazzetta dello Sport writer Alessandro Vocalelli insists Juventus need to surround the Turkey international with far better quality.

While the Bianconeri have only lost one of their seven games this season, they have struggled to score goals without Yildiz, who is sidelined with a broken foot.

Juventus signed Randal Kolo Muani (permanently) and Nick Woltemade (on loan) this summer but both strikers are yet to score in 2026-27.

Writing for Gazzetta, Vocalelli said: “Looking at today's Juve - and setting aside the phenom Yildiz (though, incidentally, we must be careful not to squander his immense talent on a team that isn't up to the task) - how many of the current players would make the cut at, say, Inter Milan or Roma?

“(Gleison) Bremer, sure, but who else? The question becomes even more awkward if you flip it around: how many of Inter or Roma’s second or third-string players would get a game for Juve?

“Certainly Pio Esposito and (Ange-Yoan) Bonny - who aren't starters for the Nerazzurri - but also (Peta) Sucic, Carlos Augusto, (Benjamin) Pavard, (Henrikh) Mkhitaryan and (Andy) Diouf; the list goes on.

“The same applies to (Leonardo) Balerdi, (Niccolo) Pisilli, (Marten) De Roon, (Santiago) Castro and (Matias) Soule. And let’s leave (Rodrigo) Mora out of it; he’s a bit like (Juventus’ Kerem) Alajbegovic—a talent worth investing in, without burdening him with the full weight of responsibility.

“In short, the gap between Juve and their theoretical rivals is so stark and obvious that the conversation ought to shift focus: from the coaches to the players.”

Yildiz, who has not featured for Juventus since breaking his foot against Frosinone in August, could return to the first-team fold in December.

Arsenal also chased Alvarez and Vinicius in the summer

In addition to Yildiz, Arsenal were linked with a number of forwards as they looked to make a marquee signing in the summer transfer window.

The Gunners pursued ambitious deals for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior but missed out on both players.

Premier League champions Arsenal did sign one forward, however, with Christos Tzolis joining from Belgian Pro League side Club Brugge for €40million (£35m).