Mykhailo Mudryk may have been the one that got away for Arsenal, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Gunners will come out of the January transfer window empty-handed.
That’s because Brighton’s Leandro Trossard has been offered to the club, according to the Evening Standard, as Mikel Arteta continues to push for reinforcements this month. It’s added that enquiries have also been made for Barcelona’s Raphinha, though he is said to be keen on fighting for his place at Camp Nou.
Trossard, on the other hand, finds himself out of favour after falling out with manager Roberto De Zerbi. The 28-year-old was left out of the Brighton squad that beat Liverpool 3-0 on Saturday and wants to leave in the coming weeks, a statement by his agent confirmed.
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Although he may not cause the same level of excitement that surrounded Mudryk, Trossard can be viewed as a low-risk signing that will not require a crazy amount of money. In addition to his current situation, the Belgian international is also out of contract in the summer, making any potential move feasible.
The age difference compared to Mudryk, 22, is another factor many supporters hold reservations over, but again, it can play a positive part in where Arsenal are and where they want to be.
Trossard has made 140 Premier League and international appearances combined and would be the sixth-oldest player in the Gunners squad should he join. Not only will he bring valuable experience to a young team ahead of what is a crucial stage of the season, but he can also help guide an Arsenal attack which has an average age of just 22.
It’s likely that Arteta will only be able to get the best out of Trossard for two or three years, but the development of Marquinhos during that period could see him become a long-term replacement.
The 19-year-old has only made 11 appearances since his move from Sao Paulo in the summer, five of which have come with the Arsenal U21s. However, after scoring five goals and registering three assists, those within the club will be aware that they have an exciting prospect on their hands, making a loan departure a preferable solution this month if further attacking additions are made.
Despite there being just a two-year age gap, Bukayo Saka is miles ahead of Marquinhos in terms of development, quality and experience. Even so, the signing of Trossard or someone who possesses a similar profile would allow the Brazilian to grow elsewhere over the next couple of seasons, placing him in a much stronger position to provide Saka with adequate competition and support in the years ahead.
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