Arsenal open talks to sign Brighton star Leandro Trossard

Arsenal have entered the race to sign Brighton forward Leandro Trossard.

The Belgium international is in the midst of a stand-off with manager Roberto De Zerbi and is set to leave the Amex Stadium this month.

Tottenham have been monitoring his situation but Arsenal have stolen a march on their north London rivals by opening talks with Brighton over a January move.

Mikel Arteta’s side have opened talks with Brighton over a potential move for the Belgian

Up until yesterday, Trossard was still training alone at Brighton and it is now increasingly likely that he leaves. 

Sportsmail understands the fee will be in the region of £20million.

Mikel Arteta has been on the look out for a new forward this month and looked on course to sign Mykhailo Mudryk. 

But Chelsea’s late intervention shattered their hopes of signing the Ukrainian.

The Gunners have moved quickly, however, to identify other targets and are now hopeful of getting a deal for Trossard over the line in the coming days.

Leandro Trossard’s future at Brighton is in limbo after a falling out with Roberto De Zerbi

Chelsea announced the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk from Shaktar Donetsk last Sunday

Trossard and De Zerbi have had a public falling out of late, with the manager criticising the player’s attitude and work rate since his return from the World Cup with Belgium.

Trossard has not appeared for the Seagulls in 2023, and was not involved in his team’s 3-0 win over Liverpool after he left training prematurely without De Zerbi’s permission. 

Rumours had circulated the Belgian was a key transfer target for Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham, but it appears the Gunners will win the race for the attacking midfielder.

De Zerbi and Trossard have evidently not seen eye to eye since the Italian coach took over

In a statement released last week, Trossard’s agent Josy Comhair lifted the lid on his client’s fractious relationship with De Zerbi. 

‘After the World Cup, there was an altercation between Leandro and a player in training over a trivial matter,’ Comhair said.

‘Since then, the manager no longer speaks to Leandro, which is obviously not conducive to the atmosphere, nor is it performance-oriented.

‘Last Monday, the manager humiliated Leandro in 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.’

Trossard is Brighton’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with seven goals in 16 appearances

Despite their recent conflict, Brighton coach De Zerbi did indicate that he would welcome the player back to training.

‘I’m fine with myself and I’m ready to open the doors for him, because he’s a good guy and a very important player for us,’ he said.

‘He changes the team, but he has to understand and to work with my attitude, in my way, because I am the coach, I decide the rules inside the dressing room, only this.’