Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis has made his transfer preferences crystal clear ahead of the upcoming summer window; he is only interested in clubs from England, Germany, Spain, or Italy that could entice him to depart from Belgium. In an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, the 24-year-old Greek forward asserted that he has outright rejected Crystal Palace. “The Crystal Palace opportunity is in the past for me,” he stated decisively, effectively closing the door on Newcastle United as well, despite speculation linking him to the Magpies.
Aston Villa and Manchester United are leading the pursuit of Tzolis
As per Belgian publication Gazet van Antwerpen, highlighted by Sport Witness, clubs including Juventus, Aston Villa, and particularly Manchester United have shown interest in Tzolis in recent weeks, with the Red Devils already making formal inquiries. Tzolis seems intrigued by the possibility of joining United. “They could convince me,” he acknowledged. “It’s a huge club with an impressive history, making it hard to say no.”
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Club Brugge turned down a €32m bid from Crystal Palace last summer, but circumstances have evolved, and Tzolis feels prepared for a change. Brugge aims to make this a historic transfer, aspiring for Tzolis to set a new record for Belgian football, exceeding the €36 million taken in for Ardon Jashari during his move to AC Milan last summer. With 19 goals and 24 assists over 49 appearances this season, Tzolis has helped bolster his market value significantly.
Aston Villa’s summer strategy depends on bolstering their wing options
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United have all increased their interest, making it a highly competitive race as we approach June. Meanwhile, Aston Villa recently celebrated Europa League success with a convincing 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final, securing a place in the Champions League next season, and manager Unai Emery has reportedly been allocated a £100 million transfer budget.
Is Aston Villa likely to secure Tzolis this summer?
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 30: Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge in action during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match against Atalanta BC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)
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From a practical viewpoint, Tzolis represents a solid option for Aston Villa. Unai Emery aims to lessen the team’s reliance on Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, as productivity from the wings is a meaningful area of need. Tzolis can effectively fill this void. However, the rivalry remains a challenge. Villa has already drafted a list of potential wingers, including Abde Ezzalzouli, Victor Munoz, and Jesus Rodriguez, indicating that Tzolis is merely one of various potential targets.
At the moment, Manchester United’s interest appears stronger, and with Brugge seeking over €36 million, Villa will need to act decisively rather than merely testing the waters. Emery typically avoids bidding wars when viable alternatives are available at lower costs. Personally, I believe United are in a better position to land Tzolis, while Aston Villa may reposition to pursue a more budget-friendly winger from their options. In any case, this transfer saga is likely to extend into July.