Arsenal news as the Gunners prepare to enter the transfer market
Speculation linking with Kenan Yildiz with Arsenal won’t go away(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
The countdown to the new Premier League campaign is well and truly underway following the release of the fixture list.
Arsenal will begin their title defence against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City on Friday, August 21. By that point, the champions will have made their mark in the transfer market, with both incomings and outgoings anticipated this summer.
Activity remains relatively subdued for now, as the World Cup takes centre stage. Nevertheless, considerable work is taking place behind the scenes to ensure Mikel Arteta’s squad is as well-prepared as possible for 2026/27, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea each seeking fresh starts under new management.
In the meantime, Gunners supporters will have one eye on the 15 players currently representing their nations in North America, particularly the England contingent of Declan Rice, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. As the tournament progresses, here’s a round-up of the latest Arsenal news….
FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page
Gunners interest ‘welcomed’
Kenan Yildiz has reportedly embraced the Gunners’ ongoing interest in him. The Turkey international, who has been consistently linked with Arsenal, only penned a new deal with Juventus in February, committing himself to the Turin club until 2030.
Juve will have hoped that would have silenced the rumours surrounding his future. Nevertheless, having missed out on Champions League qualification, they may require a financial boost, with Yildiz the player most likely to fetch the highest transfer fee.
According to TuttoSport, the Gunners have sounded out a potential move in ‘recent weeks’, while Yildiz regards the Emirates as a ‘welcome destination’. In response, the Old Lady’s majority shareholder, John Elkann, has reportedly rebuffed Arsenal’s overtures. That said, should circumstances demand it, Juve may find themselves obliged to cash in on the 21-year-old.
Real’s stance on Calafiori
Real Madrid’s pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori has been called off after the Gunners attached an eye-watering price tag to the Italian. Amongst the most sought-after defenders across the continent, Calafiori has attracted attention from Los Blancos, who are reconstructing their squad under Jose Mourinho following a dismal campaign that yielded no silverware.
However, Marc Cucurella’s £52million transfer to the Bernabeu, alongside a £78m offer for Manchester City’s Ruben Dias, has consumed a considerable portion of Real’s transfer funds.
Riccardo Calafiori has been linked with Real Madrid(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Despite securing Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on a free transfer, the centre-back’s salary will further deplete whatever budget remains available to Mourinho.
With £130million already allocated, should the Dias transaction be completed, Arsenal’s £86m valuation of Calafiori will prove prohibitively expensive, especially with reinforcements still needed in other areas of the squad.
Thousands of Arsenal fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Various Prices
Seat Unique
Buy official packages at Seat Unique
Official premium experiences at the Emirates are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.