Belgium forward Leandro Trossard has joined Turkish side Besiktas from Arsenal on a three-year contract.The 31-year-old has been signed for 18m euros (£15.3m) – paid in six equal instalments over three years – and his deal also includes a further one-year option.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Tuesday, he was given permission to travel to Istanbul to undergo a medical after a transfer fee was agreed.Trossard was under contract until 2027 with Arsenal, having joined from Brighton for £21m plus add-ons in January 2023.He scored 36 goals and registered 34 assists in 174 appearances for the Gunners, helping Mikel Arteta’s side win last season’s Premier League title.Trossard was a key player, starting in the Champions League final defeat by Paris St-Germain and 21 times in the league.He also started all six games at this summer’s World Cup, scoring twice, as Belgium reached the quarter-finals before losing to Spain.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementChristos Tzolis has scored 43 goals in 108 appearances for Club Brugge [Getty Images]The Gunners are set to accelerate their pursuit of Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis following the departure of Trossard.BBC Sport reported the Gunners’ interest in the Greece international in June and the club are now poised to move for the forward.Club Brugge are anticipating an offer from Arsenal for Tzolis.Sporting director Andrea Berta is working on the deal after his assistant Maurizio Micheli watched the 24-year-old play for Greece against Sweden last month.Tzolis could be available for about £30m (35m euros).Any move for him would be separate to Arsenal’s interest in signing more high-profile attackers this summer.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey retain a long-term interest in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, who is the club’s priority target, but it remains to be seen if a deal for the Argentina international is possible this summer with Barcelona and Real Madrid also interested.Morgan Rogers is Arsenal’s preferred option in their search for a versatile forward, with the club’s efforts to sign the Aston Villa attacker set to accelerate once his participation at the World Cup with England is over.Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is viewed as the alternative in the event of failing to reach an agreement with Aston Villa, who reportedly value Rogers at £130m.Meanwhile, Arsenal recruitment specialist Micheli watched Georgia Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili play for Iberia 1999 against Flora in their Champions League qualifier last Wednesday, with sources indicating the Gunners are stepping up their efforts to land the teenage attacker.Who will win the World Cup? The view from the semi-finalistsLatest Arsenal news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Arsenal – what do you want to know?
Content Source: Yahoo News
Image Credit: Getty Images
All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.