Arsenal Line Up Olympiacos’ Konstantinos Tzolakis As Kepa Exit Opens Door

It may still be early in the summer, and the 2026 World Cup has not even kicked off yet, but that does not mean Premier League clubs have not already begun planning for next season.

That is certainly the case at Arsenal. SportsBoom have already revealed that the reigning Premier League champions are monitoring Christos Tzolis as a potential option should either Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard leave the club this summer.

However, Tzolis is not the only Greek player currently attracting attention from the Gunners. 

According to information obtained by SportsBoom, Olympiacos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis is also on Arsenal’s radar.

The truth behind Arsenal’s interest in Tzolakis – and the financial obstacle

His name will already be familiar to many football fans.

Tzolakis is Olympiacos’ first-choice goalkeeper and has been an undisputed starter under José Luis Mendilibar for the last two and a half years. 

Last season, he featured in every Champions League match for the Greek giants and was also part of the squad that won the UEFA Europa Conference League, arguably the greatest achievement in Greek club football history.

The 23-year-old stands out for his reflexes, his ability in one-on-one situations and, crucially, his age profile. Being a young international goalkeeper with significant European experience makes him an attractive proposition for several clubs across the continent.

Arsenal’s interest is not new. The goalkeeper has been on the club’s shortlist since April.

The biggest development, however, is that Mikel Arteta has personally approved the profile. 

The Arsenal manager believes Tzolakis fits the club’s long-term planning, rates him highly and has been particularly impressed by the improvement in his distribution and ability with the ball at his feet. an area that was not considered one of his strongest attributes just a couple of years ago.

The main issue? His price tag.

Tzolakis is currently valued at around £17.5 million, a figure Arsenal would find difficult to justify for a goalkeeper who would begin the season behind David Raya in the pecking order.

Realistically, he would be expected to feature in domestic cup competitions and take opportunities as they arise throughout the campaign.

Kepa could be the key to the entire situation

Despite the financial challenge, nothing has been ruled out.

Arsenal like the player, view him as someone with significant room for development and are aware that Tzolakis has previously spoken about his admiration for the Premier League, describing it as the most competitive league in world football.

For the move to become a realistic possibility, though, one thing would likely need to happen first: Kepa Arrizabalaga would need to leave Arsenal.

Everyone at the club is understood to be satisfied with the Spaniard’s contribution. He never complained about his role, played an important part in training sessions, helped younger players develop and was Arsenal’s regular goalkeeper throughout their League Cup run.

However, Kepa remains a luxury option as a second-choice goalkeeper.

He knows he is capable of starting regularly elsewhere, just as he did during his spell at Bournemouth, and there is a growing feeling that he may seek a new challenge in search of more minutes.

Crucially, Arsenal inserted a £5 million release clause into his contract.

Should another club activate that clause, Arsenal would receive a fee that could effectively reduce the net cost of a move for Tzolakis from £17.5 million to £12.5 million.

Suddenly, the numbers begin to look much more attractive.

It is a scenario that all parties are aware of and one that could develop as the transfer window progresses.

The question now is simple. 

Will Arsenal’s list of Greek players remain at three, Stathis Tavlaridis, Dinos Mavropanos and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, or could Konstantinos Tzolakis become the fourth name in the club’s history?

And if another Greek arrives alongside him, perhaps even the fifth?