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Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis has made his intentions clear ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window — he will only consider offers from Champions League clubs based in England, Germany, Spain, or Italy. In a candid interview with Het Nieuwsblad, the 24-year-old Greek forward confirmed that he had turned down Crystal Palace. “The Crystal Palace train has already left the station for me,” he stated firmly. This stance also rules out a move to Newcastle United, despite reports linking the Magpies with a potential bid for the Greece international.

According to Belgian daily Gazet van Antwerpen, as reported by Sport Witness, Juventus, Aston Villa, and particularly Manchester United have all expressed interest in recent weeks, with the Red Devils already submitting formal enquiries. Tzolis himself appeared intrigued by the possibility of joining United. “United could convince me,” he admitted. “Such a massive club with so much history. It would be hard to say no.”

Last summer, Club Brugge rejected a €32 million offer from Crystal Palace. However, circumstances have shifted, with Tzolis now ready for a new challenge. Brugge intend to make his exit a record-breaking one for Belgian football, aiming to surpass the €36 million fee that Ardon Jashari commanded when he moved to AC Milan last year. Tzolis has been in remarkable form this season, tallying 19 goals and 24 assists across 49 matches — even surpassing Bruno Fernandes in the assists tally — making the €36 million valuation justifiable.

Interest from Premier League giants Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United has intensified in recent weeks, setting up a competitive race for his signature as June approaches. Meanwhile, Aston Villa recently lifted the Europa League trophy with a 3-0 victory over Freiburg in the final, ensuring Champions League qualification for next season. Reports suggest manager Unai Emery has been granted a £100 million transfer budget to strengthen the squad.

Realistically, Tzolis could be a strong fit for Aston Villa. Emery is keen to reduce the team’s heavy reliance on Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, with productivity from the wings identified as an area needing improvement. Tzolis could fill that gap effectively. However, competition remains fierce. Villa have compiled a shortlist of wingers, including Abde Ezzalzouli, Victor Munoz, and Jesus Rodriguez, implying that Tzolis is one of several potential options rather than the top priority.

Manchester United’s pursuit appears more advanced at this stage. With Club Brugge standing firm on their €36 million valuation, Aston Villa would need to make a decisive move rather than merely exploring interest. Emery typically avoids bidding wars when lower-cost alternatives are available. Given this, United seem the more likely destination for Tzolis, while Villa may turn to a more budget-friendly winger from their shortlist. Either way, the transfer saga looks set to continue well into July.