The transfer rumor mill is churning hard this week, and a few storylines have real legs on them. Arsenal is still sniffing around Christos Tzolis, the Greek winger at Club Brugge, as a potential replacement for Leandro Trossard. According to Sky Sports, the Gunners haven’t opened formal talks with the Belgian side yet, but they’ve quietly checked what a deal would cost. That number is reportedly around $44 million, which puts Tzolis in a bracket where Arsenal might actually pull the trigger. Trossard’s future has been uncertain all summer, and the Premier League champs have a shortlist that also includes Morgan Rogers and Julian Alvarez. So Tzolis isn’t the only name on the board, but he’s a real one.
Over at Manchester United, the club hasn’t given up on Aurelien Tchouameni even after the French midfielder signed a new contract with Real Madrid that runs through 2031. United-focused journalist Andy Mitten says Madrid hasn’t totally slammed the door on a sale this summer. That’s interesting, because usually when a player signs a long-term deal, it’s a clear signal. But Madrid has done this before — lock someone up and then move them if the offer is right. Tchouameni would be a massive get for United, but it’s hard to see Madrid letting him go cheap.
The biggest plot twist this summer might be the Saudi money coming for Crysencio Summerville. Al Hilal has already made contact with the Dutch winger’s camp to see if he’d be interested in a Middle Eastern move. And considering West Ham got relegated last season, Summerville is very available. Multiple Premier League clubs are in the mix — Manchester United, Spurs, Fulham — plus Roma. But Al Hilal can offer a payday that none of those teams can touch. It’s going to come down to whether Summerville wants the money or the chance to stay in a top European league.
Chelsea is trying to get Alvaro Carreras back from Real Madrid after selling them Marc Cucurella. The Blues think they can get Carreras on a discount deal, but Sport reports there’s a $27 million gap between the two clubs right now. That’s a pretty big split for a player who’s not exactly a known quantity yet.
Dusan Vlahovic is sitting on an offer from Besiktas but he’s stalling to see if Barcelona comes calling. The Serbian striker is a free agent after leaving Juventus, so this is the kind of situation where a guy can afford to wait. Besiktas gave him a 24-hour ultimatum to decide. That’s a bluff, more than likely. Star strikers don’t usually get ultimatums in July — they take calls, they weigh options, they sleep on it.
And finally, Yves Bissouma is training with Fulham after being released by Tottenham. The Mali midfielder needs a new home and he’s already crossed London to work out at Craven Cottage. Fulham could use the depth in midfield, and Bissouma has the talent if someone can get him focused.
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