Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe handpicks Chelsea target Leandro Trossard for January transfer move
Brighton & Hove Albion forward and Chelsea target Leandro Trossard has been handpicked by Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe for a move in January, according to The Northern Echo (h/t football.london).
The Magpies have entered the race for the Belgium international and are looking to bring him in in the winter transfer window. However, the Blues have also been heavily linked with the 27-year-old.
Ever since the appointment of Graham Potter in September at Chelsea, his former Brighton & Hove Albion star is a name that has been associated with us. And the English manager gives the Stamford Bridge side an advantage over Howe’s team.
Trossard joined the Seagulls from Belgian outfit Genk in the summer of 2019 when Potter was in charge of the East Sussex side. And since then, the 27-year-old has gone from strength to strength.
The forward seems to have come into his own in the current campaign. In 12 Premier League appearances this season, the Belgium international has scored seven goals and given two assists.
Trossard has been in fine form for Brighton. While he has mostly played out on the left, the Belgian has also played in the number 10 and centre-forward role in the current campaign.
Against Liverpool on 1 October, the 27-year-old became only the third player to score a hat trick against the Reds at Anfield in the PL. In Chelsea’s previous fixture against the Seagulls, the forward opened the scoring as Roberto De Zerbi’s team beat us 4-1.
Chelsea’s forward line has struggled to get on the scoresheet consistently this season. New signings Pierre Emerick Aubameyag and Raheem Sterling have been underwhelming. The likes of Kai Havertz, Christina Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Armando Broja have also found life difficult.
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Thus, Chelsea evidently need to add more depth up front to spur up competition for places. At the moment, none of our attackers are justifying their place in the starting lineup. And it remains to be seen whether the Blues make a move for Trossard in January.