Arsenal have agreed a deal worth up to €40m (£34m) with Club Brugge to sign Christos Tzolis as a replacement for Leandro Trossard and will step up their attempts to sign defensive cover due to concerns that William Saliba could miss the start of the new season due to his ongoing back issues.
An official bid for Tzolis, a Greece international who scored 22 goals last season and was previously targeted by Crystal Palace, has yet to be submitted but it is understood that Arsenal have verbally agreed to pay the Belgian club’s asking price. The 24-year-old is expected to have his medical in the coming days and sign a long-term contract. The former Norwich forward, who usually plays on the left flank, will be a direct replacement for Trossard after his departure for Besiktas was confirmed this week for €18m (£15.3m).
Arsenal are still planning to bring in more attacking reinforcements this summer and retain an interest in Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez, although he is also wanted by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are other potential targets.
Villa are thought to want more than £100m for Rogers, with Arsenal having also expressed an interest in his England teammate Ezri Konsa. The centre-back could provide cover for Saliba after the France defender had to be taken off in the World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday after breaking down at the start of the second half.
The 25-year-old said during the tournament that he has been “gritting his teeth” and playing through the pain of a back injury for some time and there were reports in France that he will require back surgery. It is understood that Arsenal intend to make their own assessment before deciding whether that is necessary.
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The Premier League champions also have major concerns over Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka’s fitness and workload after both admitted they have been playing through pain to be at the World Cup. They are expected to be given extended rests after Saturday’s third-place playoff against France.
