Man Utd open talks to sign Arsenal transfer target dubbed a 'marvel of nature'

03/26/2025 01:19 PM

Manchester United have made contact with Greek club Olympiacos over Arsenal transfer target Charalampos Kostoulas, according to reports.

The Gunners are interested in a deal for the forward, who has been labelled a ‘marvel of nature’ by Olympiacos sporting director Darko Kovacevic.

United and Arsenal are not the only clubs linked to the 17-year-old wonderkid, though, with a number of other Premier League sides keeping tabs on his progress including Chelsea, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

Kostoulas is also wanted by some of the biggest clubs across Europe with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus, AC Milan and unnamed Spanish teams thought to be in the race for the teenager’s signature.

But United appear to be in the driving seat at the moment after officially making contact with Olympiacos over a move, The Sun have reported.

Kostoulas has made 33 first-team appearances for Olympiacos to date, conjuring up six goals and two assists, having joined the club in 2019 from Agia Anna Volos.

He has scored two goals across his first two caps for Greece U21s and is known for his impressive physicality, quick pace and natural eye for goal.

Kostoulas is sometimes known by the nickname ‘Babistuta’, which is a nod to former Argentina striker Gabriel Batistuta.

The Greek starlet – who is over six foot tall – is capable of scoring with both feet, thrives with his back to goal and rarely loses aerial duels.

Olympiacos, understandably, are reluctant to lose Kostoulas in the next summer transfer window with the player under contract until June 2030.

But given that such a high number of Europe’s elite clubs want to sign Kostoulas, it seems inevitable that he will eventually leave the Greek side.

Kostoulas burst onto the scene when he was still in the Olympiacos academy, helping the club clinch the UEFA Youth League title and being named Super League Greece 2 Young Player of the Season in 2024.

The ‘marvel of nature’ has since been promoted to the first team and became the youngest player in Olympiacos history to play professionally.

Kostoulas was impressively named Super League Greece Player of the Month in December.

As well as featuring for Greece U21s, Kostoulas has also played at U19, U17 and U16 level for his country.

Kostoulas was set to join Greece’s first team during the international break for the Nations League showdown against Scotland.

He didn’t make the cut, though, after not recovering in time from a hamstring injury he picked up in a Europa League match against Bodo/Glimt.

Kostoulas looks set to make his return for Olympiacos against Panathinaikos on Sunday.