Chelsea are reportedly set to hold preliminary talks with Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Leandro Trossard in preparation for a January move.
Graham Potter was brought in as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel in September, and after a promising start to his time at Stamford Bridge, things began to fall apart before the World Cup. Graham Potter is looking to bolster his squad when the transfer window opens in January, after dropping to eighth in the table after three consecutive defeats.
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho wants to reunite with Leandro Trossard at Stamford Bridge, according to Football Insider. With the in-form attacker’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Potter has made the Brighton star his top priority. The Senior Citizens will seek to reach an agreement, according to the report.
Trossard, 27, has proven to be an astute signing for Brighton since joining from Genk in 2019. The 27-year-old has been in excellent form this season, scoring seven goals and assisting three more in 14 Premier League appearances, and his consistent performances for the Seagulls have earned him a call-up to Belgium’s national team for the ongoing World Cup in Qatar.
Chelsea faltered after a promising start under Graham Potter, suffering three consecutive Premier League defeats before the World Cup break. This has put Potter in a bind, and while co-owner Todd Boehly is expected to be patient and give him time to rebuild, the squad steadily, the Blues manager understands that he must quickly turn around the club’s fortunes.
Chelsea have struggled to score goals consistently since the start of the season, so Potter is reportedly looking for attacking reinforcements to supplement his current squad. After the likes of Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have failed to impress, the English tactician has set his sights on Leandro Trossard as a new attacking option.
Trossard has 25 goals and 14 assists in 118 games for Brighton, but he is at a point in his career where he deserves to play for a bigger club, either in the Premier League or elsewhere in Europe.
The Belgium international has been the standout performer for his club this season.
This season, he has averaged 1.5 key passes, 0.7 dribbles, and 2.6 shots per 90 minutes in the English top flight. He’s also been efficient with the ball, as evidenced by his pass completion rate of 74.2%.
When and Where Brighton vs Manchester United Stream Live?
At 27, Leandro Trossard is entering his prime and could make an immediate impact at Chelsea. Potter knows Trossard inside and out, having managed him for three years at Brighton, and should be able to get the most out of the attacker.
Brighton value the Belgian international at around £25 million, so Chelsea must act quickly to secure a deal.