Newcastle United have reportedly added Brighton & Hove Albion winger Leandro Trossard to their transfer list for the upcoming summer window.
According to the Daily Mail, Newcastle United are eyeing a potential swoop for Brighton & Hove Albion star Leandro Trossard as a potential Allan Saint-Maximin replacement.
Newcastle United are expected to make a splash in the summer transfer window should they stay up in the Premier League this season, which is looking likelier by the day. The Magpies have been one of the most in-form teams in the division since the turn of the year, showing off the progress they have made under Eddie Howe and their shrewd January business.
There is still a lot of work to be done in terms of squad makeover if Newcastle are to climb up the table and compete with the English top flight’s elite. And the upcoming summer transfer window is going to be crucial for doing that, with proper backing for Howe expected from the cash-rich owners.
One area where the club may try to reinforce in the summer is on the flanks. The Magpies are currently linked with a host of players, such as Ismaila Sarr and Eberechi Eze. And it looks like Brighton playmaker Leandro Trossard is the latest name added to their shopping list.
The Belgian international signed for the south coast outfit from Genk for around £18 million in 2019 and has since gone on to make around 100 competitive appearances for them, notching up 15 goals and nine assists in the process. One of the Seagulls’ most creative outlets, he has appeared 29 times in the Premier League so far this campaign, scoring five and assisting once under Graham Potter.
The 27-year-old’s contract at the Amex Stadium expires in 2023, and he wants a move out of Brighton. So, it seems the south coast Premier League club could be forced to cash in on him. And one possible destination for the 27-year-old Belgian international could be Newcastle United.
Newcastle fan favourite Allan Saint-Maximin has been linked with an exit from St. James’ Park recently, even though Howe has confirmed the Frenchman’s long-term future at the club in his latest pre-match presser. Nonetheless, if the unlikely happens, it might free up a spot for a new winger to join the Magpies.
Intriguingly, The Mail reports that Trossard will only be pursued if moves for Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby and Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson do not transpire this summer. These are two players the club have already compiled extensive scout reports on, but Newcastle United face stiff competition from top clubs for both.
Replacing Saint-Maximin with either Johnson or Diaby makes a lot of sense, owing to their youthful talent and growth potential. But Trossard would be a bit of an uninspiring signing and is unlikely to take the club to the next level.
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While there is no denying Trossard has plenty of top-flight experience and the 27-year-old clearly has the natural ability to produce moments of real quality, just like Saint-Maximin, his end-product often goes missing, as reflected by his lowly tally of just 24 goal contributions in the last three full seasons for Brighton.
One may also argue that the Belgian international was playing in a better system than Steve Bruce’s drab Newcastle side that Saint-Maximin carried by himself for the best part of his Newcastle career.
