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Almost a month after news broke about Arsenal’s interest in Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge, fresh reporting now suggests the Gunners are poised to finalise the deal. Kostas Lianos reports for The Sun that Arsenal are nearing an agreement for a fee in the region of £35 million, with everything seemingly in place. The last step required is for Arsenal to give the final go-ahead so that Tzolis can travel to London to sign his contract.
Fabrizio Romano confirms that Arsenal have kept regular contact with Tzolis’ camp throughout the summer, and the player himself is keen on the move. The one potential hurdle appears to be Leandro Trossard, with the Arsenal winger weighing up a potential transfer to Besiktas. If that move goes through, it is likely that Tzolis’ switch to Arsenal will follow shortly afterward.
That scenario makes sense when you consider Arsenal currently have Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli in their ranks, and they are also pursuing Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. If no one departs and Tzolis arrives, the left wing could become crowded, and Arsenal would likely want to secure Trossard’s exit before bringing in another wide player.
Arsenal have reportedly reached a deal with Besiktas for Trossard, worth €20 million (€17.1 million upfront) plus €2 million in potential add-ons. Wages up to €9 million and final personal terms are still being negotiated, but the move has stalled while Belgium’s World Cup exit lingers in memory. With Belgium’s elimination by Spain on Friday night, that development could be the first domino to fall, potentially followed by Trossard’s transfer to Besiktas and subsequently Tzolis’ move to Arsenal.