Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Club Brugge to sign attacker Christos Tzolis for 40m euros (£33.9m), as the Greece international becomes the club’s second summer signing and the direct replacement for Leandro Trossard.
The Gunners are yet to table a formal offer but that is viewed as a formality, while personal terms will not be an issue. Once Arsenal submit their bid, the 24-year-old winger will undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract.
“Arsenal agree £33.9m deal for Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis as direct replacement for Leandro Trossard.”
The move for Tzolis — who has scored 43 goals in 108 appearances for Club Brugge — accelerated after Belgium international Trossard departed for Besiktas. Sporting director Andrea Berta worked on the deal after his assistant Maurizio Micheli watched Tzolis play for Greece against Sweden last month.
This signing is separate from Arsenal’s bid to bring in at least one high-profile forward this summer. The club retains a long-term interest in Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, who remains the priority target, though Barcelona and Real Madrid are also interested in the Argentina international.
Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers is Arsenal’s preferred option in their search for a versatile forward, with efforts to sign him set to accelerate once his participation in the World Cup with England ends. Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative should Arsenal fail to reach an agreement with Aston Villa, who reportedly value Rogers at £130m.
