Arsenal line up £85m Vinicius Jr alternative but immediately hit by transfer issue

Arsenal are once again eyeing up a move for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz after seeing their ambitious bid to lure Vinicius Junior to the Premier League fall flat.

The Gunners had been eyeing a club-record move for the Real Madrid star, but the Brazilian has chosen to stay and extend his contract with Los Blancos, forcing the Premier League champions to look elsewhere.

Arsenal are in the market for more firepower and are now said to have turned back to Yildiz, according to The Times. The north Londoners failed with an initial enquiry for Yildiz earlier this summer, while the Gunners also considered a move for the attacker 12 months ago. Juventus previously made it clear they wanted £85million for his services.

Mikel Arteta has reignited his interest and reportedly reviewed the situation back in June, but the Serie A club made it clear that they do not want to sell the Turkey international - leaving Arsenal will another transfer fight on their hands.

Juventus are ultimately in no hurry to sell and have the 21-year-old tied down on a contract until 2030, which he only signed in February. Yildiz scored 11 times in 47 outings last term and his displays saw him named the Serie A Rising Star of the Season.

The winger made three appearances for Turkey at the World Cup this summer but his preparations for the tournament were disrupted by a calf injury.

Juventus boss Luciano Spalletti has come out this week and underlined his importance to the team as they look to ease him back to full fitness. "He is a very important footballer for us," he said. "For this reason, we are carefully managing his playing time, trying to build a correct schedule and work path to have him at his best throughout the season. But the fact that he is no longer in pain, that he is smiling and free to express his football is what makes us most happy."

Arteta has already strengthened the left side of his attack by bringing in Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for £34m. He compliments the squad's other wingers, which includes the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke.

Arsenal have also added proven Premier League quality in Bruno Guimaraes, who joined from Newcastle this weekend in a deal worth £75m. Another blockbuster deal during this window could take the club's expenditure past the £200m mark.

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