Tottenham are among one of multiple clubs monitoring the situation of Brighton winger Leandro Trossard.
The 28-year-old, who’s contract will expire this summer, was curiously omitted from Brighton’s match day squad that beat Middlesbrough 5-1 on Saturday in the Third Round of the FA Cup.
Roberto de Zerbi also chose to bench the Belgian, for the first time this season, during their 4-0 win against Everton on Tuesday night, sparking much speculation that the winger could be set to depart the Amex Stadium this January.
While he was absent for Brighton’s game on Saturday De Zerbi claimed after the match that his omission from the squad was due to an injury.
He said: ‘Yesterday he didn’t train with us. He had a problem with his calf.’
Trossard has now featured in all but three of Brighton’s Premier League matches this season, scoring seven times, including an impressive hat-trick against Liverpool at Anfield in October.
His clinical finishing and excellent work rate has drawn the attention of multiple suitors from around the league, with Chelsea also reportedly sniffing at his availability.
Trossard has made it clear in the past that he would be open to joining former Brighton boss Graham Potter at Chelsea, but he could now be swayed to join Antonio Conte’s side who seem to be in the market for another forward.
Since joining Brighton in 2019 from Genk, Trossard has returned 25 goals and 14 assists in 121 appearances for the club, but it seems while De Zerbi still values Trossard, he would like to see more from him.
‘I think he’s one of the best players for us and one of the most important players for us,’ he said in an interview with The Athletic. ‘I’d like to always play with Leo in the first eleven, but it doesn’t depend only on me, it depends on Leo.
‘I don’t know, but with me I want players that work for the team on the pitch and Leandro knows very well my opinion, my idea. I’ve spoken a lot of times with him.
‘I like him as a player, but I want more from him, because he can play better, he can work harder, he can run more on the pitch and I want players who give 100 per cent in every training session and every game.