Chelsea Have To Spend £25m To Land Versatile Belgian Ace: Right Choice For Potter?

Chelsea have reportedly entered the transfer race for £25million-rated Brighton & Hove Albion star Leandro Trossard.

The Blues recently stole exciting talent Mykhaylo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk under the noses of Arsenal. Mudryk’s move to Stamford Bridge came just days after the club signed another forward Joao Felix, who joined on loan from Atletico Madrid for the rest of the season. However, the West Londoners are in no mood of stopping and want to bring in another attacker in this transfer window.

According to the Daily Mirror, Chelsea manager Graham Potter wants to reunite with Leandro Trossard, who is also wanted by London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Trossard, 28, has fallen out with Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi and he was subsequently left out of the squad for the last two games against Middlesbrough and Liverpool. Meanwhile, the Belgian’s contract was about to expire in the summer but the Seagulls have activated the option to extend his contract by 12 months so that he cannot be sold on the cheap.

The report adds Brighton are unlikely to accept anything less than £25million for Leandro Trossard in this winter transfer window amidst interest from a host of clubs.

Leandro Trossard to Chelsea—Should they make a move?

Chelsea are rebuilding their squad under Graham Potter, as co-owner Todd Boehly continues to spend big despite Financial Fair Play concerns. The Pensions have added young talents such as David Datro Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Mykhaylo Mudryk in this transfer window, while acquiring Joao Felix’s services on loan from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season.

But Graham Potter’s club, who are currently 10th in the Premier League and struggling, are still looking for further attacking reinforcements. And Brighton forward Leandro Trossard has emerged as a target for Chelsea.

Trossard was part of Belgium’s World Cup squad after a superb first half of the season in which he scored goals against Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea. He has gone off the boil after the resumption of the Premier League and recently fell out with Roberto de Zerbi, which has prompted Brighton to listen to offers for him.

Potter knows Trossard in and out having managed him for three years at Brighton, so signing him for Chelsea will involve less of a risk factor. The Belgium international can operate in a multitude of attacking roles or as a wing-back when required, and his flexibility could be of great use for Potter, who has used 3-4-2-1, 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations so far at Stamford Bridge.

With Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic injured, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misfiring and Hakim Ziyech yet to replicate his World Cup form in the Premier League, the Blues could do well with an experienced player like Trossard in their attack. The 28-year-old is at the peak of his powers and would improve Chelsea’s attacking options significantly.

That said, Chelsea must look to complete the signing of Leandro Trossard as quickly as possible.

Update: It seems Chelsea need not fret too much over the player anyway as Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal to sign Leandro Trossard for a fee believed to be around £26m! (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jan/19/arsenal-leandro-trossard-brighton-advanced-talks-sign)