Daniel Farke once publicly hammered Christos Tzolis, now he's set to join Arsenal for '£35m'

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke oversaw Christos Tzolis' £10million move to Norwich City in 2021.

The German was sacked just a few months later, and the winger would later leave the Canaries for just £3m in 2024 after a shambolic spell.

The years since have seen the Greece international explode in Belgium, scoring 43 goals across the last two seasons.

As a result, Premier League champions Arsenal have reportedly approached Club Brugge over a move for Tzolis this summer, which is expected to cost around £35m.

The Gunners are keen to sign a new left-sided forward in the coming months, although interest in the former Norwich man is not expected to affect any potential move for Morgan Rogers.

His possible arrival could result in an exit for Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard, however, with both players having just one year remaining on their deals.

Daniel Farke's Christos Tzolis spat

Tzolis arrived at Norwich in 2021 as a massive coup for the newly promoted Premier League side.

The winger, 19 at the time, had just scored 16 goals for PAOK and was very highly rated.

It quickly became evident that he was not ready for the Premier League, however. Tzolis made just 14 league appearances in his debut campaign, with his only goal contributions coming against Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup.

One moment in September 2021 stands out as a defining moment in the forward's time at Norwich.

The Canaries were 1-0 down at Carrow Road against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, and had been awarded a penalty for Conor Bradley's foul.

Tzolis, keen to add his third goal for the club, stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort saved by the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher.

Farke was furious and revealed after the game that the teenager had not been meant to take the penalty. "A big mistake," he said. "He was unbelievably emotional and excited but that’s what happens with young players, they take the wrong decisions and I was a bit annoyed that none of my older players was aware that he shouldn’t take the penalties.

"I love this guy and he will be an important player for us in the future and in general he had a really good performance. But believe me after I have spoken to him he will never do this mistake ever again in his life. He has apologised."

"It cost us maybe a place in the next round," he added. "He will learn from this. Now the topic is done.”

Tzolis can have the last laugh over Farke

Tzolis' time at Norwich never appeared to recover from his public dressing down at the hands of Farke.

Even after the German had been sacked in November, the winger would not score another goal all season and struggled in the Championship, too.

The move to Fortuna Dusseldorf, where he scored 24 goals in the 2023-24 season, and the subsequent switch to Brugge saw Tzolis unlocked.

Almost five years later, and the Greece international may once again come face to face with his former manager.

Should the Arsenal move materialise, Tzolis will hope to score against Farke's Leeds and prove he was wrong to berate him all those years ago.