Arsenal are exploring a shock move for Juventus winger Kenan Yildiz before the transfer deadline after agreeing a £51m deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
Mikel Arteta was open to signing a new winger even after bringing in Greek international Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
The Gunners expressed interest in a stunning swoop for Vinicius Junior and were even growing in confidence before the Brazil icon decided to sign a new contract at Real Madrid.
It was reported earlier in the month that Arsenal had identified Yildiz as a possible alternative to Vinicius and had made an approach to Juventus to discuss a deal.
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The Premier League champions spent the subsequent few weeks focussing on bolstering Arteta’s defensive options and finally made a breakthrough in talks with Villa over Konsa.
Arsenal will pay £51m to sign the England star, who is set to undergo a medical at the Emirates Stadium ahead of his unveiling.
Now a deal for a new versatile defender has been secured, Arsenal are once again looking at attacking signings and have made a new move for Yildiz.
The Independent say Arteta is ‘especially keen’ on Yildiz, a Turkish international who is valued at around £85m by Serie A giants Juventus.
It is also claimed that Arsenal are considering using Gabriel Martinelli as part of the deal but the Brazilian is said to favour a move to another Premier League club if he is forced out of north London.
As a result Martinelli, who is Arsenal’s longest-serving player, has already rejected a move to Galatasaray, who are also interested in Ethan Nwaneri.
Yildiz has made 131 appearances for Juve and hit double digits in his last two seasons in Turin.
Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand has branded Arsenal’s imminent deal for Konsa as an ‘absolute steal’ and says it will help the Gunners retain the Premier League title.
Analysing Konsa’s move to the defending champions, Ferdinand told his YouTube channel: ‘I think this is a magnificent signing. A player in his prime who knows exactly who he is and what he is.
‘There’s no frills about him. He’s a solid, really, really, really good Premier League defender.
‘Arsenal are advancing in talks with Konsa from Aston Villa for 51million pounds plus add-ons. I think it’s an absolute steal in today’s market.
’28 years old, minimum four or five years of really, really solid, dependable service, and he provides vital cover in two areas: centre-half and right-back.
‘You’ve got Ben White, who seems fit now, but has had injuries in the right-back area. You’ve got Timber, who hasn’t been able to stay fit as well, and William Saliba’s injury concerns as well.
‘He’s going to be great cover. Someone who can come in there and just play straight away, no questions asked. And that versatility at the top level, the reliability as well, both right-back and centre-half, absolute steal.’
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