Arsenal's £35m Tzolis deal in doubt as Trossard agent signals he could stay

Arsenal’s planned £35m signing of Club Brugge forward Christos Tzolis could collapse before it begins, with the agent of Leandro Trossard revealing the 31-year-old has not committed to leaving the club this summer — casting doubt over the entire chain of moves Mikel Arteta’s side had mapped out.

Trossard had been widely reported as close to joining Turkish side Besiktas for around €18m (£15.3m), with personal terms said to have been agreed and a deal expected to be finalised after the World Cup. But his agent, Dirk Hebel, has poured cold water on that timeline.

“I can confirm that Besiktas did everything they could to sign Leandro Trossard,” Hebel said. “However, no decision has been made yet. Leandro has all the offers on the table and will make his decision soon. He is a world-class player with several options, including staying at Arsenal.”

Tzolis, 24, had been identified as the ideal replacement for Trossard after a prolific season in Belgium, scoring 22 goals for Club Brugge. Arsenal had already agreed the broad terms of a £35m deal for the Greek forward. If Trossard remains at the Emirates, the rationale for that move disappears entirely.

Trossard himself contributed eight league goals as Arsenal claimed the Premier League title last season, and also scored twice during Belgium’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals — form that underlines why he remains a valued option for Arteta.

The uncertainty around Tzolis is not Arsenal’s only transfer complication. The Gunners’ long-standing interest in Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is running up against competition from Barcelona, whose president Joan Laporta has confirmed his club’s offer carries a deadline.

“We’ve made an offer that isn’t unlimited, and in due course we’ll announce how long the offer remains on the table,” Laporta said. “The offer was made with the intention of signing a player who appeals to both the sports management and the coach. I think he’s a great player; we’re maintaining the substantial offer, but the validity of this offer is not unlimited.”

A potential move for Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has also hit a wall. Arsenal had understood he might be available for around £50m, but that figure no longer appears to reflect Newcastle’s position, leaving that pursuit in an uncertain state as well.

With multiple targets stalling simultaneously, Arsenal’s summer business remains at a standstill — and the resolution of Trossard’s future looks likely to dictate the direction of several other deals.