Arsenal - Mikel Arteta
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Arsenal are reportedly trailing Brighton & Hove Albion in the race to sign Olympiacos starlet Charalampos Kostoulas, despite making early contact over a potential deal for the highly-rated teenager.
The 18-year-old forward, who celebrated his birthday on Friday, enjoyed a breakout campaign in Greece, scoring six goals and providing two assists to help Olympiacos secure a domestic double. Kostoulas also featured in the UEFA Europa League and has represented Greece at under-21 level, following a youth Champions League triumph last year.
Arsenal, along with Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, and Aston Villa, are said to be monitoring the versatile attacker. European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also reportedly keen. However, according toThe Sun, Brighton have surged into pole position and are prepared to break their transfer record, currently £40 million to land the Olympiacos forward.
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The Greek champions are holding out for a fee in the region of £42–£46 million and are expected to demand a significant release clause in any deal. Brighton previously saw a £30 million bid plus Abdallah Sima rejected, but talks are said to be progressing rapidly, with a deal potentially completed as soon as next Wednesday when the transfer window briefly opens.
Arsenal - Charalampos Kostoulas
Charalampos Kostoulas (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arsenal’s interest in Kostoulas comes amid a search for attacking reinforcements, following a season disrupted by injuries. The Gunners were forced to deploy midfielder Mikel Merino as an emergency forward at times, highlighting the need for added firepower.
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In addition to Kostoulas, Arsenal have also expressed interest in another Olympiacos prospect, 18-year-old midfielder Christos Mouzakitis. The Greece international has earned high praise for his passing range, vision, and composure under pressure, drawing comparisons to Andrés Iniesta. His style is said to mirror that of Arsenal academy stars Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.
While Brighton appear to be leading the race for Kostoulas, Arsenal remain active in scouting top young talent, with their efforts to bolster the club’s youth setup and long-term attacking depth continuing into the summer.
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