---
title: "Bayern step aside in Kenan Yildiz chase, but Arsenal’s biggest hurdles remain"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2026/10/14/kenan-yildiz-arsenal-bayern-step-aside/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Lucie Turner"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2026-10-14T14:13:45Z"
modified: "2026-10-14T14:13:45Z"
---

# Bayern step aside in Kenan Yildiz chase, but Arsenal’s biggest hurdles remain

Arsenal’s pursuit of Kenan Yildiz has reportedly lost one of its rivals. However, he Juventus forward is still a long way from being a done deal.

According to TeamTalk, Bayern Munich have decided against bidding for the 21-year-old, due primarily to the financial implications. The club which nurtured Yildiz and sent him to Juventus in 2022 simply cannot justify spending a significant amount of money on him again.

Such pragmatism makes perfect sense given the circumstances. Yildiz spent years at Bayern’s academy before making the switch to Turin. He has since admitted he never felt the same level of trust at the Bundesliga giants compared to his time in Italy. So having allowed him to leave, blowing millions on a return deal would be difficult to justify.

## **A fee that makes you wince**

Cost is an issue for Arsenal too. Just Arsenal have placed the valuation at around €150m, while other Italian reports have suggested €100m as Juventus’ starting point. In any case, it would be a record-breaking sum for a player who has been out injured for much of the season.

Yildiz fractured a bone in his left foot in Juventus’ opening league game against Frosinone and needed surgery. He is expected to be out until around the end of November.

He’s still one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe, though, with 10 goals in 36 Serie A games last season and a World Cup appearance with Turkey.

## **Juventus aren’t budging**

One key consideration is that Juventus have no interest in selling him. They have tied him to a long-term deal until 2030 and have already rejected a big-money offer from Chelsea last year, describing him as ‘unsellable’.

So even with Bayern out of the equation, Arsenal would still have to persuade a club that regards him as a cornerstone of their future.

Bayern are not the only ones who could be interested. Real Madrid have been linked with Yildiz since the winter of 2025, reports Corriere dello Sport. They could sign him again in the summer. If they do, then Arsenal would be facing a real challenge, as Real Madrid are among the few teams who can afford to pay such a big fee.

## **Why Arsenal still want him**

The reason for the interest is easy to see. Arsenal have been looking for more depth on the left of their attack, and Yildiz is a natural fit. He is a left-sided attacker who can also play through the middle. He has the kind of dribbling and creativity that would suit Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal also signed Christos Tzolis in the summer. This suggests Yildiz is being viewed as a long-term addition rather than an immediate answer.

For now, this is one to keep an eye on rather than a guaranteed result. Arsenal have one fewer rival, but Yildiz’s price-tag, his injury and Juventus’ stance mean that the toughest challenges of this deal are still to come.