Arsenal have set their sights on thrashing out a deal for former target Leandro Trossard after missing out on Mykhaylo Mudryk - and they could be about to snare the Brighton star at the second time of asking.
Mikel Arteta was always set to be in the market for attacking reinforcements this month but has been forced to move on to secondary targets after Chelsea gazumped the Gunners in the race for Mudryk.
According to numerous reports, Arsenal have now turned their attention back to Trossard and are in advanced talks over a deal that would supplement a squad that is currently eight points clear at the summit of the Premier League.
The 28-year-old seems primed to leave Brighton this month following a very public fallout with new boss Roberto De Zerbi. And while Arsenal are likely to face significant competition for the Belgium international's signature, they are, at this stage, in pole position to capture the versatile forward, who has plundered seven league goals in 16 outings this term.
But had things played out differently, Trossard could have been plying his trade at the Emirates years ago.
In an interview before the World Cup back in November, Trossard’s agent, Josy Comhair, revealed to HUMO that Arsenal travelled to Belgium no less than four times for private transfer talks in a bid to persuade him to join them instead of Brighton when he was at Genk back in 2019.
Comhair said: "[Graham] Potter came to Brussels, especially for Leandro. With an extensive PowerPoint presentation to convince him. He absolutely wanted him. There were other options. In the same period, I had several conversations with Arsenal. They came to Belgium four times.
Join the debate! Do you think Trossard would be a good signing for Arsenal? Let us know here.
"I'll give you a note: most players would have chosen Arsenal. But what would have happened if Leandro didn't get to play? Then there is only one way out: to take a step back.
"People don't realise what that does in someone's head. I know Leandro: bench him three times and he goes wild. So, we turned it around: if he does well at Brighton, he doesn't have to back down, he can take a step forward. Didn't we get it right?"
While it was decided back in 2019 that moving to Arsenal wouldn't be right for Trossard, the Seagulls star could now be winging his way to north London, with a deal believed to be close.
Trossard has just 18 months remaining on his current deal at the AMEX Stadium and is free to leave the club this month - if Brighton's valuation is met.
Arsenal's move comes just days after it was revealed that their north London rivals, Tottenham, had seen a verbal £12m offer for Trossard rebuffed by the Seagulls.
