Arsenal is moving fast to lock down a deal for Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis, and reports say the price tag sits around £35 million. Manchester United had also shown interest in the 24-year-old Greek international, but it looks like the Gunners are about to close the door on them.
According to The Sun, the deal is close to being finalized. Arsenal views Tzolis as the direct replacement for Leandro Trossard, who is reportedly heading to Turkish side Besiktas for £17 million after the ongoing World Cup in North America wraps up.
Tzolis isn’t exactly a new name for English fans. He had a stint at Norwich City a few years back, though it didn’t exactly light the Premier League on fire. He made 30 appearances across all competitions for the Canucks, scoring three goals and adding two assists. Hardly the kind of numbers that get people excited.
But here’s where the story flips. After underwhelming at Norwich, Tzolis went on loan to Twente and then Fortuna Dusseldorf, where he started to find his rhythm again. Then in 2024, he joined Club Brugge and everything clicked.
His numbers last season are ridiculous
Last campaign, Tzolis put up 22 goals and 29 assists in 52 appearances across all competitions. That’s 51 goal contributions from the left wing. He helped Brugge win the Belgian league title and turned himself into one of the most sought-after attacking players in Europe.
The guy works his tail off, makes smart runs, and finishes chances with real composure. For a team like Arsenal that sometimes struggles to break down deep defenses, adding a player who can create something out of nothing on the wing makes a lot of sense.
One thing worth noting: Arsenal’s move for Tzolis reportedly won’t affect their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers. So it seems like the club is looking to add depth in multiple attacking spots, not just replace Trossard and call it a day.
For Manchester United, this is another case of missing out on a target they’d been tracking. The club made inquiries about Tzolis but never pushed hard enough to get ahead of Arsenal. Whether that comes back to bite them remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder that Arsenal’s recruitment machine is humming right now while United’s feels a bit all over the place.
Tzolis is expected to complete his medical and finalize personal terms in the coming days. Arsenal fans might not know much about him beyond that short Norwich spell, but his last two seasons in Belgium suggest they’re getting a guy who’s ready for a second chance in English football.
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