Letting a title-winning squad player leave only makes sense if the next man is already lined up, and on Tuesday Arsenal showed exactly how that theory works in practice.
Arsenal confirmed that terms have been agreed with Besiktas for Leandro Trossard’s permanent departure, with the Belgian understood to be flying to Istanbul in the coming days to complete his medical. Sky Sports reported the fee at £17.1m, while Fabrizio Romano described the package as worth around €20m in total, made up of an €18m base fee and roughly €2m in add-ons. For a fanbase still working through what it means to lose a squad player who scored some of the biggest goals of last season’s title run, the timing stings even if the recruitment logic behind it is straightforward.
Yet, looking beyond the farewell, Trossard’s exit is really the opening move in a much bigger reshuffle of Mikel Arteta’s forward line, and two names are now doing the heavy lifting in Arsenal’s business.
Why Christos Tzolis Is The Name Arsenal Are Chasing
Arsenal have made official contact with Club Brugge over a deal for Christos Tzolis, according to Sky Sport Switzerland journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who reported that the Gunners have opened “official initial contact” to explore a summer move, though no formal offer has been tabled as things stand. Belgian outlet HLN corroborated the approach, reporting that Club Brugge have held at least one conversation with Arsenal since the two clubs met in last season’s Champions League.
The interest itself is not new. Romano has tracked Arsenal’s admiration for Tzolis for weeks, but Trossard’s exit is understood to have accelerated the timeline considerably. The 24-year-old Greece international scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in 52 appearances for Club Brugge last season, numbers that explain both the level of interest from around Europe and why Club Brugge are expected to demand a record fee for a departing player by Belgian Pro League standards. Romano said this week that Tzolis “is a name for sure on the shortlist” as Arsenal look to replace their outgoing wide man.
Morgan Rogers Still Arsenal’s Priority Winger Target
Tzolis would arrive as competition and cover rather than the marquee arrival – that role remains reserved for Morgan Rogers. Romano said this week that Rogers “remains a name for sure on top of the short list” for Arsenal, with reported valuations ranging from around £80m up to £130m depending on the outlet consulted.
Aston Villa’s move to sign Johan Manzambi from Freiburg – confirmed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, with the fee reported in excess of €60m – has been read by several reporters as evidence that Unai Emery is preparing for life without Rogers, given the pair operate in similar attacking-midfield territory and are not natural fits playing together in Villa’s system. Villa have so far resisted pressure to sell, but the arrival of a like-for-like alternative narrows the room they have to keep saying no.
It also fits a pattern this window. Arsenal’s pursuit of Bruno Guimaraes as a progressive passer from deep points to the same underlying diagnosis of last season’s squad: a team that was outstanding defensively but occasionally too slow to turn defence into attack. Add a rejuvenated left flank through Tzolis or Rogers to that midfield project, and Arteta’s blueprint for the season starts to take a clearer shape.
The message from inside Arsenal’s recruitment operation is consistent even if the paperwork isn’t signed on either deal yet: Trossard’s departure was never going to be a simple subtraction. Andrea Berta is working multiple fronts simultaneously, and for the full state of play across Arsenal’s summer business – ins, outs and the prices being discussed – the club’s Talking Points tracker is being updated as each story develops. Arsenal first showed concrete interest in Tzolis earlier this month, and that patience now looks set to be rewarded with a genuine chance to get the deal done before pre-season begins in earnest.
