Liverpool circle Juventus gem Kenan Yildiz as contract wrangle hands Reds a glimmer

Liverpool’s recruitment drive may not be finished yet. After a £400m summer 2025 splurge that hasn’t fully clicked, the Reds are now sizing up Juventus’ electric forward Kenan Yildiz — and they’re not alone. Real Madrid are peering over the fence too, while the Old Lady work feverishly to lock their crown jewel down.

The next superstar on the market?

Italian reports, including La Gazzetta, reckon Liverpool have put Yildiz high on the wishlist. No wonder: the 20-year-old has rattled up 17 goal contributions this season — nine strikes (eight in Serie A and one in the Champions League) and eight assists (five domestically and three in Europe) — plus eye-catching turns at the Club World Cup. He looks every inch the next £100m headline act.

Juve resurgent — and determined to keep him

Juventus have straightened the ship after a chaotic 2025 and are desperate to keep their man. Yildiz, who left Bayern Munich’s academy to make Turin his home, is said to feel a real debt to the club. The key variable? Luciano Spalletti. The former Napoli and Italy boss has overseen Juve’s revival, and his own future could shape Yildiz’s next steps.

Spalletti’s deal could be extended to 2028, and if that happens, Juve hope it’ll nudge Yildiz to add years to a contract already running to 2029 — potentially out to 2032 or even 2033. There’s a hefty wage bump on the table too, with talk of a salary north of £200,000 per week to seal it.

Price tag, payoff, and Liverpool’s gamble

Here’s the dilemma for Liverpool: Yildiz looks worth the outlay, but he’ll cost the sort of money that makes even a Premier League giant pause. The Reds’ big leap on Alexander Isak hasn’t paid off yet, and while Florian Wirtz is beginning to settle, there’s still a clear need for a reliable, match-winning punch in the final third.

Does a nine-figure swing on Yildiz fix it all? Possibly not on its own — but it would turbocharge the attack and reset the mood at Anfield. For those weighing up the wider market picture, the best betting sites offer a tidy snapshot of how the odds-makers see the summer circus.

Champions League and the summer war chest

Champions League qualification will make or break Liverpool’s summer blueprint. Without it, the headroom to elbow Real Madrid aside for Yildiz shrinks fast. With it, the chequebook looks a lot more formidable. Right now, the Reds are deep in a top four/five scrap that could go right to the final whistle, with Chelsea and Manchester United in the crosshairs.

Managerial subplot: Slot now, Alonso later?

Arne Slot still has everything to prove as he fights to deliver that Champions League ticket. And if the winds shift on Merseyside, Xabi Alonso — should he be the man to step in — will expect premium names from day one. Yildiz fits that bill: young, explosive, and already delivering on the grandest stages.

The pundit’s verdict

If Liverpool can land Champions League football and keep the price near the £100m mark, Yildiz is a swing worth taking. Miss out on Europe’s top table, and the calculus changes — Juventus will press the advantage with a mega extension, and Madrid won’t wait around. This chase is elite-level brinkmanship, and right now, the ball’s at Liverpool’s feet.