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Arsenal's anticipated sale of Leandro Trossard to Beşiktaş is expected to accelerate the Premier League champions' pursuit of Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis.
Trossard has officially become a Beşiktaş player after traveling to Istanbul earlier this week and passing a medical at a local hospital. The Gunners stand to receive up to £17.1 million ($22.9 million) for the veteran Belgian, with the vast majority of that fee guaranteed.
Now, BBC Sport reports that Arsenal's existing interest in Tzolis will be "accelerated," with Club Brugge "anticipating" a formal offer arriving in the near future.
The Greek international is coming off a standout campaign in Belgium, contributing 51 goals and assists across 52 appearances in all competitions. That form was enough to attract Arsenal's attention, and the decisive moment reportedly came when senior Gunners scout Maurizio Micheli watched Greece draw 2–2 with Sweden in a pre-World Cup friendly last month.
Tzolis contributed an assist that evening and led all players on the pitch in both chances created (four) and touches inside the opponent's box (five).
Securing the transfer could cost Arsenal around £30 million ($40.5 million)—considerably more than the Trossard sale generates, yet still relatively reasonable by today's elite market standards. Even if Tzolis occupies a similar squad role to Trossard, coming off the bench on the left flank, he is seven years younger and would inject fresh energy into the side.
The move would also leave Arsenal room to continue their search for a higher-profile attacking addition.
Arsenal Still Have Three-Player Shortlist
The general consensus is that pursuing Tzolis as a younger alternative to Trossard does not diminish Arsenal's ambition to land a premium versatile forward.
Even with primary target Julián Alvarez appearing unlikely due to his preference for Barcelona, the Gunners are still expected to make a move for either Morgan Rogers or Bradley Barcola.
Reports suggest Aston Villa are valuing Rogers at £130 million ($175.5 million), joining the growing list of clubs pricing players in line with what Manchester City paid for Elliot Anderson.
Arsenal previously attempted and failed to lure Ollie Watkins away from Villa as a short-term solution 18 months ago, but Rogers—who turns 24 before the end of July—would represent a long-term commitment.
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Barcola, who was largely limited to a supporting role at Paris Saint-Germain last season, would come at a lower price—though not by a significant margin. The latest estimate from L'Équipe in France puts his value at approximately £127 million ($171 million).
According to BBC Sport, Rogers is the preferred option of the two, and Arsenal are expected to intensify their efforts to sign him once England's World Cup campaign concludes after the weekend.