Arsenal have opened talks with Brighton over a move for forward Leandro Trossard in the January transfer window, football.london understands. The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the winger as they eye an option on the flanks after missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk to Chelsea.
Trossard is a player who Arsenal have tracked since his time at Genk. He has since gone on to enjoy a Premier League career with Brighton and is valued as a player who could come in and hit the ground running. He has enjoyed a notable season up to this point, scoring seven and assisting three goals in 16 Premier League appearances. Arteta has been keen to sign a player who can play across the frontline having missed out on Mudryk this window and Raphinha in the summer, and Trossard's ability to do this could be key.
The 28-year-old has just six months remaining on his current contract with Brighton and therefore could be available for a diminished price. However, Brighton retain the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.
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He has recently fallen out with Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi which has seen him dropped for the past two games against Everton and Liverpool. “Leandro Trossard isn't on the list for next game," De Zerbi said ahead of Brighton's 3-0 win over Liverpool. "The last session before last game, when he understood he wasn't playing, he left the session without telling me anything. I told him I don't like this attitude."
He then later added: "I don't know about the transfer market, if he wants to change teams or not. I am open with him to take a step back and listen to him but he has to understand with me, I want only players who work hard and play for the team 100%."
The Belgian's agent, Josy Comhair, then later released a statement highlighting how his client has been 'humiliated': "Before Leandro [Trossard] left for Qatar, Brighton's intention was to have Leandro sign on [a new deal]. This did not happen, as the parties did not come to an agreement. Leandro has also indicated that he is ready for his next step [in his career].
"After the World Cup, there was an altercation between Leandro and a player in training over a trivial matter. since then, the manager no longer speaks to Leandro, which is obviously not conducive to the atmosphere, nor is it performance-orientated. Leandro still had a starting place against Southampton and Arsenal, but against Everton he was on the bench. He was also not included in the five substitutions that took place at the time, and this without any explanation.
"In the run-up to the game against Middlesbrough for the FA Cup, Leandro had already indicated that he had problems with his calf. This was the reason why he stopped training. This was, incidentally, in consultation with the medical staff. The manager told Leandro that he had to train separately. Last Monday, the manager humiliated Leandro in the group and indicated that he no longer wanted to see him.
"A manager who has not communicated directly with his player for four weeks is really incomprehensible. Incidentally, it is also the manager who has indicated several times that a transfer is the most convenient solution. It is therefore important that Brighton cooperates with a potential transfer during this transfer period and shows a benevolent attitude, which is beneficial to both parties."
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