Christos Tzolis has been left out of Club Brugge's pre-season friendly against Heerenveen to ensure his £34 million transfer to Arsenal goes through smoothly. The Greek winger is expected to undergo a medical with the Premier League champions this weekend, according to Greek journalist Dimitris Manakos.
Tzolis, 24, was omitted from the matchday squad for the clash with the Dutch side on Thursday evening to avoid any injury risk that could derail the move. It remains unclear whether he will stay in Belgium for the game or travel to London to complete the transfer.
Arsenal's £34m Deal for Tzolis
Arsenal have agreed a £34 million fee with Club Brugge for Tzolis as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the new season. The Gunners are preparing to defend their Premier League title and need reinforcements on the flanks following Leandro Trossard's departure to Besiktas.
Tzolis has impressed in the Belgian top flight, recording 22 goals and 29 assists in 52 appearances. He scored a stunning curling strike in a pre-season friendly against Feyenoord six days ago, wearing the captain's armband. However, he sat out Brugge's earlier 4-2 win over Kortrijk at the start of July.
Medical Scheduled for Weekend
Reports indicate that Tzolis is set to undergo a medical on Sunday or Monday, with the winger expected to arrive in London this weekend. The transfer would make him Arsenal's third signing of the summer, following the permanent acquisition of Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen for £34.5 million and the arrival of goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United.
Arsenal are also linked with other attacking targets, including Morgan Rogers, Julian Alvarez, and Eli Junior-Kroupi, as Arteta seeks to add depth to his squad. The club ended a 20-year wait for the Premier League title last season but lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
Pre-Season and Injury Concerns
Arsenal begin their pre-season schedule on August 1 against Girona, followed by matches against Real Betis, Borussia Dortmund, and Como. They then face Manchester City in the Community Shield on August 16.
However, concerns have emerged over the fitness of key players. Reports from France suggest William Saliba may require back surgery, while the condition of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka has been questioned after their World Cup campaign with England.
