Arsenal are in pursuit of attacking reinforcements this summer, with a new striker a priority for Mikel Arteta – but one forward on their radar has now joined Brighton & Hove Albion.
Arsenal could have done with an out-and-out centre-forward last season, as there were instances where their lack of a focal point up front cost them.
Meanwhile, Brighton have made a real name for themselves in recent years as a club with a world-class scouting department, unearthing hidden gems time and time again.
The Seagulls have done it again by signing an 18-year-old striker who was on Arsenal’s radar, and he has been tipped for stardom by one of his former coaches.
Olympiacos FC forward Charalampos Kostoulas
Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Charalampos Kostoulas deemed the ‘perfect modern striker’
Last week, Brighton completed the signing of Charalampos Kostoulas from Olympiacos for a fee said to be in the region of £31million.
TBR Football sources previously confirmed that Arsenal were keen on Kostoulas alongside the likes of Tottenham, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
While a £31million fee for an 18-year-old with just one season of senior football behind him may seem high-risk, those who worked with Kostoulas think otherwise.
Sky Sports interviewed Sotiris Silaidopoulos, Kostoulas’s former coach, as the outlet claimed the player has ‘potential to become one of Europe’s best strikers’.
“For me, it’s a low-risk decision because I see a lot of potential in him,” Silaidopoulos told Sky Sports.
Kostoulas helped Olympiacos’ Under-19s win the UEFA Youth League in 2024, along with two Greek U19 titles.
He was then promoted to the seniors last season, where he played a part in their domestic double of the Greek title and Greek Cup.
And he did so while learning a new position, being used as a second striker rather than his usual No. 9 position.
“That shows how he can adapt and how fast he can understand what the game requires,” Silaidopoulos added. “He can play in all positions in the front line.”
Silaidopoulos then spoke about Kostoulas’ key traits, saying: “His physical capacity for his age is extraordinary.
“He’s a guy who is very strong. He can keep the ball like a target-man and change direction very fast using his body.
“His technical ability, especially inside the box, is that of a great finisher. He can score with both feet, with his head.
“But, for me, what people underestimate a lot in Kostoulas is how clever and how intelligent he is during the games.
“Most people only see the first parts, like the physicality and how good his technique is.
“His biggest strength, for me, is his intelligence and how fast he can adapt to what a game needs.
Silaidopoulos concluded: “For me, he is a perfect modern striker who can also play in different positions in a really good way.
“I think Brighton have made a great choice to sign him.”
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The strikers Arsenal are interested in signing
Arsenal’s main targets up front at present are Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres.
TBR Football’s Graeme Bailey recently confirmed that both dossiers are “progressing”, but as things stand, Sesko is the frontrunner.
Dusan Vlahovic has also been linked with Arsenal, but it has been reported that the Gunners are wary of his injury record.