Arsenal have made contact with Greek giants Olympiacos to discuss a double deal for fledgling duo Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis, according to a report.
Mikel Arteta's men gambled on a quiet January transfer window, a risk that backfired no fewer than two weeks later as Kai Havertz sustained a season-ending hamstring injury.
Nevertheless, the Gunners are still just about in contention for the Premier League crown, sitting seven points behind Liverpool in the table after Saturday's 2-0 win over Leicester City.
Having not spent a single penny over the winter, Arsenal are seemingly gearing up for a busy summer transfer window, where a new striker and new holding midfielder will be sought as a matter of priority.
Arteta's side are already believed to be close to striking a £51m deal for Real Sociedad number six Martin Zubimendi, and they could also look to capture a new left-winger and goalkeeper for the 2025-26 season.
Arsenal 'formally express interest' in Olympiacos duo
However, the Gunners are also looking to the future, having lost several academy talents in recent times such as Ayden Heaven, Chido Obi Martin, Reuell Walters and Amario Cozier-Duberry.
According to BirminghamWorld, Arsenal are one of a few Premier League sides to have shown an interest in Kostoulas and Mouzakitis, who are enjoying breakthrough seasons in their homeland.
Kostoulas, 17, plays as a centre-forward, while 18-year-old Mouzakitis has earned his keep in midfield this season, but Arsenal seemingly have a fight on their hands to win the race for the duo.
The report adds that Aston Villa have joined Arsenal in 'initiating contact' with Olympiacos, while Manchester United and Brentford have also sent scouts to keep an eye on the pair's progress.
Mouzakitis has supposedly already been compared to Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta by the Olympiacos faithful, but his contract runs until 2029, while Kostoulas's deal does not expire until 2030.
Who are Arsenal-linked Kostoulas and Mouzakitis?
A 6ft 1in attacker who is also adept in slightly deeper positions, Kostoulas has already produced five goals and two assists in 29 appearances for Olympiacos in all competitions in the current campaign.
The 2007-born talent has largely occupied a number 10 role in the current campaign, starting four games in the Europa League, and he has also scored in both of his first two appearances for Greece's Under-21s.
Meanwhile, Mouzakitis - who was born on Christmas Day 2006 - has struck two goals of his own while setting up two more in 25 senior games for Olympiacos, mostly playing as a number eight.
The 18-year-old made his senior Greece debut in November, coming off the bench in a UEFA Nations League win over Finland, and the pair could follow in the footsteps of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly should they choose the Arsenal project.
Nwaneri put in an inspired display in the weekend's win over Leicester, where the 17-year-old broke a Premier League record previously held by fellow academy graduate Bukayo Saka. body check tags ::
