Brighton are willing to let Leandro Trossard leave the club this month amid interest from north duo Arsenal and Tottenham but will not let him go on the cheap.
The 28-year-old, who is out of contract next year, is aware of interest from bigger Premier League clubs while his agent recently claimed he had been ‘humiliated’ by Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi.
Josy Comhair says the Italian coach has not spoken to Trossard in weeks after a training-ground incident, while he was left out of the matchday squad for Brighton’s last two games against Liverpool and Middlesbrough.
Spurs are believed to have verbally offered £12million for the Belgium international – which was rejected out of hand – while Arsenal have also emerged as a potential destination.
Fresh from missing out on long-time target Mykhailo Mudryk, manager Mikel Arteta still wants to bring in a new winger to provide cover and competition and the Gunners have reportedly been offered Trossard.
Now are reporting that Brighton are prepared to grant Trossard his wish and let him leave in the January window, but only if an interested club stumps up £25millon.
That is over twice what Tottenham value the attacker at, but Brighton will not be ‘bullied’ in negotiations.
De Zerbi has opened the door for Trossard to be reintegrated into the squad and there is a feeling that relations can still be mended, with Brighton not in a position where they feel they must cash in on an unhappy player.
Spurs have not returned to Brighton with a fresh offer since their £12m proposal was rejected and it remains to be seen if they will pay so much for a player entering the backend of his peak years.
Arsenal, likewise, are thought to value Trossard at significantly less than the £25m mark, while they are believed to have received plenty of proposals about available players since the Mudryk deal collapsed.
The table-topping Gunners may be flying high in the Premier League but Arteta is conscious of a lack of depth in the attacking areas, particularly with Gabriel Jesus sidelined, and wants to bring in reinforcements.
Speaking about Trossard, De Zerbi said: ‘In this moment I am sorry for this situation. I think I didn’t make a mistake with him. The people who work inside of Brighton know very well the situation and I am fine with myself.
‘I am open to wait for him. I am ready to open the door for him because he is a good guy and he is a very good player for us, very important player.’
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