Newcastle United's scouting team have been keeping close tabs on the World Cup with some January targets involved in the Qatar tournament.
Like a lot of top-flight clubs talent spotters have not been handed time off during the tournament and have instead been allocated certain scouting missions on targets or entire World Cup groups to glean the competition for new stars. United are already keeping close tabs on Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard who has been in action for Belgium.
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However, Trossard and his team-mates have endured a tough tournament so far after scraping a 1-0 win over Canada in Group F and then losing 2-0 to Morocco on Sunday in one of the shocks of the World Cup so far. Trossard's form for the Seagulls going into Qatar was good with seven goals to his name this term.
His contributions have led to strong links with Chelsea, now managed by his old boss Graham Potter, as well as Newcastle who have been tracking the 27-year-old's progress. Trossard was one of Toon sporting director Dan Ashworth's first signings on the south coast.
Arsenal and Atletico Madrid have also been credited with interest in the left winger. Trossard's contract expires in summer 2023 but he does have an option to extend for an extra year.
But he did admit to the Belgian media that his future was uncertain and said: "Chelsea have in any case not yet reported. Not with Brighton and not with me. I have to wait and see."
Trossard and Belgium face a crunch game against Croatia on Thursday in Group F where a win would ensure they pull through to the last 16.
