Arsenal are expected to accelerate their search for a new winger once Leandro Trossard's move to Besiktas is completed, with Club Brugge's Christos Tzolis their leading target, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Tzolis enjoyed an outstanding 2025/26 season in Belgium, scoring 22 goals and providing 29 assists across all competitions. This exceptionally productive campaign has caught the eye of several clubs throughout Europe, including the Gunners, who lead the race to land the Greek international.
Trossard is set to join Besiktas in a £17 million deal, and this move is expected to pave the way for Arsenal to push forward for Tzolis.
Other clubs who have shown an interest in Club Brugge's talisman have been told that the player is waiting to complete a switch to the Emirates, with personal terms seemingly already agreed between the two parties.
Arsenal Close to Signing Tzolis as Trossard Replacement
Leandro Trossard
Arsenal are looking to renovate their left-wing department this summer, with Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli both likely to make way for two new recruits.
While noise around Martinelli's potential exit has been limited to date, Trossard is closing in on a move to Turkish side Besiktas.
The Belgian's agent was in Istanbul last week to discuss personal terms with the Super Lig giants, and the deal is now said to be imminent.
This move is expected to prompt Arsenal to step up their pursuit of wide forwards, with Tzolis one of the players most consistently linked with the Gunners.
"If Trossard goes to Beskitas, Arsenal will immediately accelerate for a new winger," Romano said on his YouTube channel.
"One of the names being mentioned internally, and Arsenal are in contact with his agent, is Christos Tzolis, the winger from Brugge. So Tzolis is keen on a move to Arsenal.
"There was another club trying to enter the race over the recent days, trying to understand if they can advance in negotiations to sign Tzolis from Club Brugge.
"But the answer from the player's camp has been: we are waiting for Arsenal. And so Tzolis is giving priority to the Gunners as a serious possibility to eventually replace Leandro Trossard."
Tzolis is a Sensible Trossard Replacement for Arsenal
Christos Tzolisvia Reuters
Arsenal's pursuit of Tzolis does not mean they won't still go for a more established option on the left wing. Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola continue to be mooted as targets for the Gunners, while Kenan Yildiz has also been mentioned as someone Andrea Berta is looking at.
However, the Gunners clearly needed a more direct Trossard replacement, and they may have sourced the perfect man to fill this role in Tzolis.
At a similar age to the 'explosive' Greek now, Trossard scored 22 goals and provided ten assists for Belgian side Genk. The two players enjoyed similar career trajectories up until that point, and thus, their skillsets and levels could closely align.
Instead of allowing Brighton or a similar club to acquire Tzolis, Arsenal have decided to skip the middle man and take a punt on this exciting talent emerging from one of Europe's less decorated leagues.