Kenan Yildiz, whose breakthrough season earned him praise from plaudits and interest from Premier League clubs, has yet to sign a new Juventus contract but it could happen soon.
His electrifying performances for the Bianconeri last term have earned him a nomination for the Kopa Trophy Ballon d’Or award.
Yildiz’s representative, super agent Jorge Mendes, hyped the Turkish talent during the winter transfer market. Juve swiftly slapped an asking price of €80 million (£94m), which attracted relentless interest from the world’s media without any concrete bids.
His form dipped for a while until things quietened down. Then Thiago Motta was axed and, after Igor Tudor helped him find his groove, Juventus issued a hands off policy on their German-born rising star.
Yildiz’s dynamic displays at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup put Yildiz under the spotlight with both Chelsea and Manchester United showing keen interest. Yet Juve’s stance remained, the 20-year-old is not for sale.
Huijsen may advise a Spanish switch
He exchanged shirts with his former Juventus Next Gen team-mate Dean Huijsen after Juve’s tame exit in the last 16 to Real Madrid. Huijsen was discarded by Motta, and reached La Liga via Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.
No doubt Huijsen will be in touch with his friend Yildiz about the Spanish top tier, and could actively encourage a switch.
El Nacional newspaper in Spain reported in July that Yildiz had offered himself, through Mendes, to Barcelona. Yet Barcelona’s economic situation was not viable to land Yildiz, and still is not for head coach Hansi Flick to land Yildiz.
Barcelona came perilously close to signing Yildiz, a Bayern Munich prodigy since the age of seven. When his contract expired he moved from the Bavarian outfit, snubbed Barca and arrived at Juventus where his meteorite rise has been well documented.
Yildiz outpriced for Barcelona
Yildiz’s price tag has soared to €100m (£117.7m), courtesy of his formidable form following on from last season and the Club World Cup. This is currently too high for the Catalan club, despite both Flick and Barcelona president Joan Laporta singling out Yildiz as a top target and strategic signing.
The only way Barcelona could broker a deal with Juve would be to offer at least two players in a swap deal for Yildiz, whose contract expires in 2029.
Whether Yildiz will join the long list of Juventus Next Gen graduates being sold under Motta and Tudor remains to be seen.
Juventus need to get their act together and improve his salary to fit in with his team-mates, otherwise risk losing their emerging superstar.