Arsenal make €50m + Gabriel Jesus ‘concrete offer’ for €90m ‘phenomenon’ who ‘will be a Ballon d’Or winne

Arsenal have reportedly stepped up their pursuit of Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yildiz, with a massive €50 million plus Gabriel Jesus offer on the table for the highly-rated Turkish star. According to multiple Italian outlets, the Gunners have made what has been described as a “concrete bid” as they look to reshape their attacking lineup ahead of the next transfer window.

Andrea Berta, Arsenal’s sporting director, is said to be orchestrating the move with two clear goals — to secure one of Europe’s most exciting young attackers and simultaneously find a new destination for Gabriel Jesus, who could struggle for game time under Mikel Arteta once fully fit. Juventus, however, are not expected to make negotiations easy.

Kenan Yildiz, only 20 years old, has become one of Serie A’s standout young stars. Blessed with creativity, composure, and confidence far beyond his years, the Turkish international has quickly risen to prominence under Massimiliano Allegri. Arsenal, aware of his soaring reputation, have been closely monitoring his progress since early 2024.

According to Bianconera News, Arsenal’s interest first surfaced in September, when the club began exploring the possibility of signing Yildiz despite already having attacking midfielders like Martin Ødegaard and Eberechi Eze competing for similar roles. The London side sees Yildiz as a generational talent — one capable of evolving into a world-class playmaker.

A subsequent report from Spain indicated that Arsenal had already initiated preliminary talks with Yildiz’s representatives, signaling a serious intent to bring him to the Emirates. Now, Italian radio network Radio Radio claims Arsenal are preparing to formalize that intent with a significant cash-plus-player proposal.

The offer reportedly values Yildiz between €80-90 million, and Arsenal have proposed €50 million in cash alongside Gabriel Jesus as part of the package. The Gunners reportedly value Jesus at around £30 million (€34.4m), believing that the total package should be enough to convince Juventus to agree.

Gabriel Jesus’s time at Arsenal has been marked by flashes of brilliance but also by persistent injuries. Since joining from Manchester City in 2022, the Brazilian has managed 26 goals and 20 assists in 96 appearances across all competitions. However, with the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres and the tactical evolution of Kai Havertz, his starting spot has become uncertain — making him a logical bargaining chip in a blockbuster deal.

Juventus, meanwhile, could view the deal as mutually beneficial. The Italian giants are searching for a striker to replace Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract expires at the end of the current season. Jesus, once fully fit, could fit perfectly into that role with his versatility and European experience, while the transfer fee would help Juventus strengthen other key areas of the squad.

Yildiz’s performances this season have only increased his value. The young forward has already scored two goals and provided four assists in eight appearances, showing maturity and technical intelligence rarely seen at his age. His 2024/25 campaign was equally impressive — 12 goals and nine assists in 52 matches — further cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest emerging stars.

Former Manchester United and Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi recently heaped praise on Yildiz, calling him a “phenomenon” destined to win the Ballon d’Or. Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Rossi said:

“A super Yildiz. The Turk is a phenomenon and will be a Ballon d’Or winner in the future. He’s only 20, but he plays like a 30-year-old with 100 Champions League appearances. He attempts beautiful plays for the good of the team, not for applause. Juventus is Yildiz plus ten others.”

That kind of endorsement reflects the growing admiration Yildiz commands across Europe. His style — combining Turkish flair with tactical discipline — has drawn comparisons to Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal, another prodigy making waves in European football.

However, Juventus remain reluctant to sell. The club views Yildiz as a cornerstone of its rebuilding project and would only consider letting him go if Arsenal’s offer exceeds expectations. Sources suggest that while the Serie A giants are intrigued by the inclusion of Jesus, they are still hesitant to part ways with a player seen as their long-term attacking leader.

For Arsenal, though, this move signals ambition. The north London club is determined to maintain its title challenge both domestically and in Europe, and adding a player of Yildiz’s potential could define their future. Mikel Arteta reportedly admires the youngster’s intelligence, pressing ability, and adaptability — all traits that fit seamlessly into Arsenal’s tactical blueprint.

The coming weeks will be crucial as negotiations develop. Juventus will weigh the financial advantages of Arsenal’s proposal against the long-term value of keeping Yildiz, while Arsenal must decide how far they’re willing to go to land one of Europe’s most sought-after young talents.

If the deal does go through, it would represent one of the most audacious transfers of the 2025 window — a move that could reshape both clubs. For Arsenal, it could mean acquiring a future Ballon d’Or contender. For Juventus, it could mean turning a rising star into the foundation for their next rebuild.