Arsenal in talks for €60m wonderkid up for Ballon d'Or's Kopa Trophy - to REPLACE star who's just signed deal: report

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal during the Arsenal Premier League Headshots 25/26 at London Colney on August 12, 2025 in St Albans, England.
Mikel Arteta isn't satisfied with his squad (Image credit: Alex Burstow/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal have opened talks for a wonderkid signing, as manager Mikel Arteta hopes to complete his squad.

The Gunners brought eight new signings to the club over the summer, with Martin Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze already making significant impacts in the first team, as Arsenal look to taste silverware for the first time in five years.

Given some of the injury issues at this early stage of the season, however, it's perhaps unsurprising that Arteta is still looking for areas to improve his side.

Arsenal enter talks for January signing

Eberechi Eze of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his teams first goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Port Vale and Arsenal at Vale Park on September 24, 2025 in Burslem, England.

Arsenal are through to the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup (Image credit: Molly Darlington - AMA/Getty Images)

Thanks to a goal from Eze, Arsenal knocked out Port Vale from the Carabao Cup last night as they look to compete on four fronts this term – and their 2-0 win was underlined by a strong bench.

The Gunners spent over £250 million in the summer to improve the floor of their squad, but could well look to add to that to raise the ceiling.

Italian outlet Radio Radio has reaffirmed reports from Tutto Juve and Bianconera News that claim that Arsenal are “crazy” about Kenan Yildiz.

The German-born Turkey international was nominated for the Kopa Trophy alongside Gunner Myles Lewis-Skelly at this week's Ballon d'Or awards, and with his club Juventus looking to tie him down to a long-term deal, the North Londoners are circling and could offer up to €60 million.

Yildiz could well act as another backup to Bukayo Saka in the absence of Noni Madueke – who was recently ruled out for two months with a knee injury – but the report states that Leandro Trossard could be offered to Juve in part of the deal.

Trossard signed a new deal over the summer and so far, has played a prominent role in Arteta's attack, despite the influx of new recruits, but with the Belgian now 30 years old, there could be scope for Yildiz – 10 years his junior – to replace him in the long-term.

Kenan Yildiz of Juventus celebrates 2-0 goal during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Wydad AC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 22, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.

Kenan Yildiz is on Arsenal's shortlist (Image credit: Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)

FourFourTwo understands that Arsenal perhaps don't have the capital to make a move in January, given that they're pushing the limits of UEFA's financial regulations – but with Yildiz currently in negotiations over a deal in Turin, there might be the scope to take advantage of the uncertainty that currently clouds his future.

Trossard, however, remains fairly settled at the moment, and with a recent wage hike, it seems unlikely that he will leave N5 unless his playing time changes dramatically.

Yildiz is valued at €50m by Transfermarkt. Arsenal travel to Newcastle United this weekend when Premier League action continues.

Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.

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