Arsenal set to move for Christos Tzolis after Trossard exit
DIRECT ANSWER: Arsenal are set to accelerate their pursuit of Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis after Leandro Trossard's departure, with the Belgian club anticipating an official offer of around £30 million. Sporting director Andrea Berta is leading talks while the 24-year-old Greece international reportedly waits for the Gunners as his preferred destination.
Key Takeaways
- BBC Sport reports Arsenal will step up their move for Tzolis following Trossard's exit to Besiktas.
- Club Brugge expect an offer of around £30m for the 24-year-old Greece international.
- Tzolis's camp has told rival clubs they are waiting for Arsenal amid a wider left-sided rebuild.
- Arsenal are also pursuing marquee targets including Morgan Rogers and Julian Alvarez in a reported £366m quadruple deal.
- The former Norwich City winger could revive his Premier League career after flourishing in Belgium.
Why are Arsenal moving for Tzolis now?
Leandro Trossard's departure has cleared a path in Arsenal's attack. BBC Sport reported on 14 July that the Gunners are set to accelerate their pursuit of Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis following the Belgian forward's exit.
The broadcaster first revealed Arsenal's interest in the Greece international in June. Club Brugge are now anticipating an offer from the Premier League champions, according to senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.
With Trossard's future resolved, Arsenal can turn their full attention to rebuilding their left-sided options. Football365 reports that sporting director Andrea Berta is pushing hard on a wider summer overhaul that includes Tzolis alongside bigger-name targets.
How much would Christos Tzolis cost Arsenal?
BBC Sport states that Tzolis could be available for about £30m. The Pink Un notes that a deal may cost closer to £35m, which would represent a significant fee for a Belgian Pro League player.
That price tag makes Tzolis a considerably cheaper option than several of Arsenal's other attacking targets. Aston Villa reportedly value Morgan Rogers at £130m, while a mooted quadruple deal involving Alvarez, Rogers, Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes could reach £366m if all valuations are met.
Arsenal's recruitment team has done its homework. Berta's assistant Maurizio Micheli watched the 24-year-old play for Greece against Sweden last month before talks advanced.
Is Tzolis the only winger Arsenal are targeting?
No. BBC Sport stresses that any move for Tzolis would be separate to Arsenal's interest in signing more high-profile forwards this summer.
Julian Alvarez remains the priority target at Atletico Madrid, though Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested. Morgan Rogers is Arsenal's preferred option for a versatile attacker, with efforts to sign the Aston Villa man set to ramp up once his World Cup duty with England ends.
Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative if a Rogers deal proves impossible. Tzolis appears to slot in as a more attainable left-sided addition within that broader strategy, as covered in our Future Tech & AI Wonders transfer analysis hub.
What does the waiting game mean for the ex-Canary?
For former Norwich City winger Tzolis, the move carries personal stakes. The Pink Un reports that his impressive form at Club Brugge contrasts sharply with his unsettled spell at Carrow Road, where he made 27 appearances before departing in summer 2024.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says Tzolis is keen on Arsenal and that another club recently tried to enter negotiations, only to be told by the player's camp: "We are waiting for Arsenal." Greek journalist Dimitris Manakos has also suggested an official bid could arrive very soon.
Complications remain. The Pink Un notes that uncertainty over Trossard's long-term future — his agent has suggested he could yet stay — once threatened to stall the Tzolis deal. For now, BBC Sport's latest reporting indicates Arsenal are poised to formalise their interest. Whether that becomes a completed transfer will define the next phase of Mikel Arteta's summer rebuild.