Morning everybody.
A fast Friday morning weblog you earlier than I head to the golf course. After the departure of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas was confirmed this week, David Ornstein reported yesterday that Arsenal have reached an settlement with Membership Brugge for the signing of Christos Tzolis.
🚨 Arsenal attain settlement with Membership Brugge to signal Christos Tzolis. Deal for 24yo left winger achieved at €40m asking worth set by #ClubBrugge. Transfer in technique of being finalised; Greece worldwide needed/prioritised #AFC change all through 🚨 @theathleticfc.bsky.socialwww.nytimes.com/athletic/735…
— David Ornstein (@david-ornstein.bsky.social) 2026-07-16T13:38:53.902Z
The 24 12 months previous will value as much as €40m, I’m guessing that’s the ultimate determine with achievements and many others, and he’ll now journey to London for a medical. I’m all proper with this type of signing, even when the participant’s profession trajectory raises an eyebrow. Not everybody does it in a linear style, generally there are late bloomers, and having watched just a few compilations, there’s definitely ending capability, fast ft, and creativity there. He’s a strong, sturdy wanting lump of a lad too.
After all spotlight reels don’t offer you something like the total image. You may have watched Viktor Gyokeres rating 54 objectives and make 13 assists for Sporting within the 2024-25 season and been wowed by his output. Tzolis bought 22 objectives and 29 assists in all competitions for Membership Brugge final season, actually spectacular numbers, however like Gyokeres it will likely be about how a lot, and the way rapidly, he can produce within the Premier League. Given a few of our potential harm points going into the brand new season, hopefully the reply to that’s ‘quickly’. The opposite factor I’d add about this one is that compared to among the different gamers we’ve been linked with this summer season, that is fairly easy one to get achieved, in order that’s a pleasant bonus.
There’s additionally growing chat about Morgan Rogers, with Johnny Right here-We-Go saying – between his posts shilling for crypto, planet devouring Ai, and anybody who pays him for a Tweet – Arsenal are stepping up curiosity within the Aston Villa man. I’ve heard from elsewhere that the membership are able to make their transfer for the 23 12 months previous, however I don’t anticipate this to be something aside from tremendously difficult. Villa have already made it clear they received’t let him go with no charge that comes near the £116m Man Metropolis paid for Elliot Anderson.
Personally, I feel that’s manner an excessive amount of for Morgan Rogers, however I additionally assume it’s manner an excessive amount of for Anderson too. If that’s the market worth although, there’s not rather a lot you are able to do however pay it should you really need the participant. Is it too cynical of me to recommend that Metropolis’s willingness to pay that for Anderson isn’t nearly getting the participant, but additionally skewing the market? Perhaps Nottingham Forest performed a blinder in negotiations, however we additionally know cash doesn’t actually matter to Metropolis whose accountants, inventive or in any other case, will discover a option to work it out.
The opposite factor you are able to do, if the value feels a bit massive, is look elsewhere for a participant that matches the profile you need. Rogers appears like a participant that ticks loads of containers for Mikel Arteta. He’s tall, fairly fast with out being super-pacy, a very good athlete, versatile in that he can play a number of positions, has Premier League expertise, chips in with first rate numbers (12 objectives and 14 assists in 55 video games final season), and he does have wonderful remaining third capability. When it will get that particular although, when that’s what the supervisor covets, it’s exhausting to search out options.
In case you take away the ‘Premier League expertise’ half although, there should be loads of gamers throughout the continent and maybe even South America who match the invoice. How prepared is Arteta to omit that essential issue although? I believe ‘not very’ is the reply there, however I assume we’ll see. Between this one, and Bruno Guimaraes, you’re most likely taking a look at an outlay of near £200m for 2 gamers, which is, even within the present local weather, rather a lot. To not point out they’re each difficult offers to get achieved. How a lot will that impression spending after a giant spree final summer season?
I’ve additionally learn reviews, unsubstantiated as but, that William Saliba has been taking part in on the World Cup with a fracture in his again. Fracture is a horrible phrase however might be much less horrible than it sounds. All the identical, relating to your again, it’s not good, and it appears probably we’ll have to spend on some defensive reinforcement too. Until they’re certain of, or prepared to take a threat with, the health of each Jurrien Timber and Ben White. For me although, as a lot as I like each these guys, that will be a bit like going to the on line casino, placing every little thing you may have on pink, after which realising you’re taking part in a slot machine.
So, because the World Cup nears its finish, the hearsay mill begins to warmth up, and I anticipate loads extra over the approaching days and weeks. Proper, I’m gonna go away it there for this morning and try to hit the golf ball in a straight line, in contrast to final week’s slice-fest. How tough can it’s? That’s a rhetorical questions, please don’t reply.
There’s an Arsecast for you beneath, have a pleasant Friday people.
