The 'sensational' £35m striker gamble Arsenal must avoid in January

Football has a tendency to err towards the hyperbolic. Every fixture is of earth-shattering importance, every controversy is a scandal beyond the confines of human comprehension, and, in the case of Arsenal's latest reported transfer pursuit, every update is nothing short of 'sensational'.

According to mutterings from Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, the Gunners have joined the race to sign Juventus teenager Kenan Yıldız. The precocious attacker has been attracting plenty of attention in Italy of late, but has seen interest in his fledgling career spike drastically after he scored a goal on his first ever start for the Turin giants. With six further senior appearances for the Old Lady already under his belt, plus three caps and a goal for the Turkish national side, Yıldız is a player growing in both profile and effectiveness at an alarming rate.

In fact, his rise has been so meteoric that TMW claim he is garnering admiration from ‘all the big names in Europe’ - and that's where Arsenal come in. You see, Juve are in something of a financial pickle at the moment, and their need to raise funds has reportedly left them at a proverbial 'crossroads'. As such, they could be convinced into selling Yıldız in the relatively near future, but only if a 'sensational offer' is tabled for the 18-year-old attacker.

Certainly, for them to consider a sale in the January transfer window, the Gunners would need to stump up a fee just shy of £35 million, and while that may seem exorbitant for a player who has just 93 minutes of Serie A football to his name, it is understood that transfer chiefs in north London are considering the prospect of such a bid. It is understood that Yıldız's age appeals to Arsenal, who would be eager to bring in such a talented youngster with a view to moulding him in their own image.

But this is still a prospective deal littered with potential pitfalls. For all of his obvious promise, Yıldız is still relatively unproven at the very top level, and one goal in one start does little to change that. He could well be the next big thing in European football, or he may prove himself to be a flash in the pan, and ultimately, only time will tell which he is.

To that end, a January swoop, especially at Juve's asking price, would be both rash and risky. With the Italian giants resolutely against the notion of a loan deal, Arsenal need to be absolutely convinced that they are making the right decision before pulling the trigger on a permanent bid for Yıldız, and while it would presumably allow a number of other elite European sides to do likewise, the best course of action might wait until the summer transfer window at least so as to adequately get a handle on just how prudent a signing he would actually be.

Football has a tendency to err towards the hyperbolic, but sometimes, as boring as it may seem, the best course of action is to prioritise a sensible approach and a measure of patience.