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SportsArsenal sign Christos Tzolis for £34m after missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea
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Arsenal are set to sign Greek winger Christos Tzolis for £34m after missing out on primary target Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea in a record £117m deal. Tzolis, 24, is flying to London for a medical after an impressive season at Club Brugge where he scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists in 52 appearances, winning the Belgian title. The Gunners had long courted Rogers but were unwilling to meet Aston Villa's valuation, allowing Chelsea to swoop in. Tzolis, who previously played for Norwich City in the Premier League, will replace Leandro Trossard who joined Besiktas for £15.3m. Arsenal may still pursue a higher-profile left winger, with PSG's Bradley Barcola valued at over £100m as a potential target.
Source report
Author: Daniel Marsh, Senior Sports Reporter
Christos Tzolis Set for Arsenal Medical
Christos Tzolis is close to finalising his £34 million transfer to Arsenal, with the Greek winger flying into London to undergo a medical before officially signing the contract.
The Gunners are looking to refresh the left-hand side of their attack this summer and have moved quickly to sign Tzolis as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who joined Besiktas last week in a deal worth £15.3 million.
While it is likely Arsenal will still sign a higher-profile player to compete for the left wing slot, Tzolis arrives at the Emirates off the back of an impressive campaign. He amassed 22 goals and 29 assists across 52 appearances in all competitions for Club Brugge last season, helping the club win the Belgian title.
Tzolis is no stranger to the Premier League, having spent time in the top flight during a three-year stint at Norwich City.
Arsenal Forced to Pivot After Rogers Joins Chelsea
While the 24-year-old is poised to become Arsenal's third signing of the summer, the club will have to pivot in their search for a new first-choice left attacker after Morgan Rogers joined Chelsea.
The England star was a priority target for Arsenal this summer following another stellar campaign for Aston Villa, who shook hands on a £117 million deal to part ways with their attacking talisman.
Rogers had been courted long-term by both London clubs, with Arsenal widely considered the red-hot favourites to sign him. However, Arsenal were unwilling to meet Aston Villa's valuation of the 23-year-old. While Mirror Football understands they were prepared to pay a premium on top of the £80 million figure they valued Rogers at, they were blown out of the water by Chelsea, who have chased the versatile attacking midfielder for over two years.
What Next for Arsenal?
With Rogers now a Chelsea player, it is unclear where Arsenal will turn next in their attempts to upgrade the left attack position.
They have been credited with an interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, but the European champions value the Frenchman in excess of £100 million, meaning a package to bring him to London could end up costing a similar amount to what Chelsea paid for Rogers.
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- Morgan Rogers completes record-breaking £117m transfer to Chelsea
Source
Mirror - Transfer NewsWestern
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Arsenal Agrees £34-40M Deal for Club Brugge Winger Christos Tzolis