Arsenal ready £87m bid to sign World Cup star

2025/26 wasn’t exactly a vintage Bukayo Saka season, although his importance to this Arsenal team remains unquestionable, even amid his ongoing fitness woes.

In the Premier League, for instance, only Viktor Gyokeres (15) bettered his haul of goals and assists in the Gunners squad (12), a respectable return considering he started just 25 games.

The 24-year-old is now battling to get up to speed in time for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia, having so often been the star attraction for the Three Lions in recent years.

From a breakthrough Euro 2020 campaign, to the highlight of his Switzerland stunner two years ago, Saka remains front and centre for both club and country.

There will be at least one statement, attacking arrival at the Emirates this summer, however, with there the potential for the Hale End graduate to potentially even be eclipsed under Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal ready to make £87m offer for World Cup star

From Julian Alvarez to Eli Junior Kroupi, a priority for the Gunners appears to be making a marquee signing to bolster the forward line, preferably bringing in a figure who can operate through the middle and off the left.

That has been exacerbated by the talk of an exit for Leandro Trossard, with the Belgian forward reportedly even agreeing terms with Turkish giants Bestikas, ahead of a summer move.

Trossard’s departure would leave a void to be filled on the left flank, and while the Gunners are exploring a deal for Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis, there could be an even more exciting option in the works.

Indeed, according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Arsenal have made Juventus and Turkey star, Kenan Yildiz, a ‘dream target’ for the summer.

There is not said to be any immediate progress in this deal, amid Yildiz’s presence at the World Cup, although the Gunners are believed to have a ‘plan’ in place for the 21-year-old.

Tavolieri even added that Arteta and co would be willing to fork out a fee of around €100m (£87m) in order to prise the young forward from Turin.

How Yildiz compared to Saka in 2025/26

It’s fair to say that Yildiz’s World Cup adventure didn’t get off to the best start, following a 2-0 defeat to Australia, although the youngster is fresh off the back of a stunning 2025/26 on an individual basis.

Juventus might have missed out on Champions League qualification, but their number ten remained the star attraction, even captaining the side against Real Madrid early in the campaign.

He is the shining light amid a turbulent period in Turin, with compatriot Fatih Terim tipping him to become “one of the world’s best“, while hailing Yildiz as “one of the best of the new generation”.

After registering 11 goals and assists in Serie A in 2024/25, the £87m man went to a new level last season, scoring ten goals and registering six assists for Il Bianconeri.

For comparison, as already noted, Saka scored just seven goals and registered only five assists, not exactly ripping it up despite remaining an untouchable figure under Arteta.

What also caught the eye regarding Yildiz’s form is just how clinical he is in front of goal, having missed just three ‘big chances’ all season. Saka, meanwhile, missed eight ‘big chances’, albeit while matching Yildiz’s goal conversion rate of 10%.

Intriguingly, too, the Juve speedster – who can operate off the left or in a central role – actually bettered Saka in a creative sense too, having created 15 ‘big chances’ and averaged 2.1 key passes per game.

In Saka’s case, he ranked second in the Arsenal squad with 12 ‘big chances’ created and was behind Yildiz again with regard to key passes (2.0 per game).

Where Yildiz also comes out on top is with regard to his dribbling prowess, having successfully completed 2.2 dribbles per game, ahead of the Englishman’s average of 1.6.

The younger man is a goalscoring, creative force who is capable of the spectacular, but he’s also impressively controlled in possession, with his 84% pass accuracy rate again seeing him rank ahead of Saka (77%).

He certainly ticks a lot of boxes at a time when Arsenal are crying out for reinforcement down the left flank, with Yildiz boasting that game-changing, talismanic quality to elevate Arteta’s forward line even further.

Even at 21, the Turkey international has already proven he can handle the pressure of being the main man at an elite club like Juventus – could he do the same by overtaking Saka in north London?