Exclusive: Aston Villa and Arsenal lodge enquiries to sign two Greek wonderkids

Aston Villa and Arsenal have initiated contact with Olympiacos ahead of potential summer swoops for wonderkid duo Charalampos Kostoulas and Christos Mouzakitis, Birmingham World can exclusively reveal.

Olympiacos have been tearing it up in the Greek Super League so far this season, topping the standings with 48 points from 22 matches. Kostoulas and Mouzakitis, just 17 and 18, have been regular starters throughout as Olympiacos have claimed 14 wins and six draws, losing on just two occasions.

This fine form has led to interest from abroad with a host of Premier League clubs keeping tabs. Birmingham World understands Villa and Arsenal have already formally expressed an interest in signing Kostoulas and Mouzakitis, while Manchester United and Brentford are understood to have sent scouts to watch the pair this campaign.

Kostoulas, a centre-forward, is already showing he’s capable of finding match-winning moments as he recently scored a brace - including a goal deep in second-half stoppage time - to beat Aris 2-1. The 17-year-old, very fast but also tall at 6ft 1in, scored his first Olympiacos goal against PAOK and registered an important assist in the 3-0 win over Qarabag in the Europa League.

Mouzakitis, meanwhile, is already a full Greece international. The 18-year-old, a left-footed central midfielder, has been likened to Andres Iniesta by local supporters as he’s got an outstanding understanding of the game at his tender age. Capable of anything from controlling the tempo of matches to finding defence-splitting passes, Mouzakitis is a huge talent.

Villa are understood to prefer Kostoulas but are keen on signing both. Arsenal, proven at developing youngsters at a rapid rate over recent years, would like to acquire the pair if possible. The interest from United and Brentford, meanwhile, is understood to be at a slightly less advanced rate – but that could change before the summer transfer window arrives.

As is the speedy rise of Kostoulas and Mouzakitis, neither were named in the matchday squads for Olympiacos’ two Europa Conference League semi-final victories over Villa last May. It’s been astonishing just how quickly the pair have soared into the first team, even featuring regularly in the Europa League to help Olympiacos to seventh in the league phase this term.

Aston Villa have already secured one future star

One promising player already signed by Villa is central defender Yasin Ozcan from Turkish club Kasimpasa, as now officially confirmed by the club. Although completed in January, the Villans decided not to announce the £7 million deal until Monday (February 10).

Ozcan has put pen to paper on a pre-contract agreement, so he will spend the rest of the season in Turkey. Just 18 years of age, the centre-half has remarkably been a regular starter for Kasimpasa for two and a half years having made his professional debut as a 16-year-old back in 2022.

The teenager was recently called up by the senior Turkey national team for the first time, even making the bench for the Nations League defeat to Montenegro in November. Ozcan has been capped by Turkey at under-16, under-17 and under-21 levels previously.