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Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement to sign Christos Tzolis for a fee potentially reaching €40 million. This move follows the departure of Leandro Trossard, who recently completed a transfer to Besiktas. Tzolis, a Greek forward who netted 22 goals last season, is expected to bolster Arsenal’s attacking options.
Meanwhile, concerns persist regarding the fitness of defender William Saliba, whose back problems will be thoroughly evaluated after the upcoming World Cup. Surgery remains a possible course of action to address his condition, prompting Arsenal to explore additional defensive reinforcements.
Transfer Market Activity and Squad Updates
Arsenal’s pursuit of new talent continues amid challenging negotiations, including a rejected £65 million bid for Bruno Guimarães. The club is also monitoring Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, with Villa reportedly demanding over £100 million for the attacker. Discussions to accelerate this potential transfer are expected to intensify following the World Cup.
In contrast, Atlético Madrid have shown reluctance to part with striker Julián Álvarez, preferring to conduct any transfer dealings outside of La Liga.
Former Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is nearing a free transfer to Venezia, having agreed to a three-year contract. His time at Arsenal was hampered by injuries, and a brief period at Ajax followed before this latest move.
Within the squad, veteran commentator Graeme Souness has voiced criticism of midfielder Declan Rice, describing him as “limited” and doubting further improvement. Souness highlighted Rice’s lack of creativity during England’s narrow 2-1 semi-final loss to Argentina.
Additionally, there is growing opinion that manager Mikel Arteta should consider extended rest periods for key players including Bukayo Saka, Rice, and Saliba after the World Cup. This suggestion aligns with FIFA’s 21-day mandated break, aiming to address ongoing fitness concerns.
Reflecting on recent transfer near-misses, Arsenal have seen several targets slip away: Mykhailo Mudryk opted for Chelsea in an £88 million deal, Thomas Lemar‘s £92 million move collapsed, Gonzalo Higuaín signed for Napoli, Juan Mata chose Chelsea, and a loan for Demba Ba was blocked by then Chelsea manager José Mourinho.
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