Arsenal receive £17m transfer offer after Mikel Arteta agrees to sell title winner

Arsenal have received a £17m transfer offer for Premier League title winner Leandro Trossard, according to reports in Belgium.

Trossard has been a mainstay in the Arsenal team since his £27m move from Brighton in 2023, making 174 appearances for the Gunners.

The 31-year-old winger produced his best return in the 2023-24 season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, but has continued to contribute over the past two years.

It was Trossard’s late goal against West Ham in the final week of the season that went a long way to helping Arsenal clinch their first Premier League title since 2004.

Despite being a trusted lieutenant in Mikel Arteta’s squad, Trossard has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer.

Arsenal are interested in signing a new left-sided winger – Eli Junior Kroupi and Bradley Barcola are two possible targets – to replace Trossard and the club’s longest-serving player, Gabriel Martinelli.

It was reported earlier in the month that Arsenal were ‘open to offers’ for both Trossard and Martinelli as they look to improve in the wide areas.

Besiktas considered signing Trossard last summer and are again interested in bringing the Belgium World Cup star to Turkey.

But Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg say Saudi club Al-Diraiyah have also expressed interest in Trossard and even approached Arsenal with a £17m offer.

Diraiyah are looking to bolster their squad after securing promotion to the Saudi Pro League last season and sporting director Dougie Freedman, formerly of Crystal Palace, has identified Trossard as a top target.

It is claimed they are willing to offer Trossard a contract worth almost £9m-a-year if he indicates he is willing to move to the Middle East.

Arsenal legend Alan Smith has warned his former club against selling Trossard, however, telling Metro he should be retained after a ‘great season’.

‘The only one from that list I wouldn’t want to see go is Leandro Trossard,’ Smith said on behalf of BestBettingSites. ‘I think he had a great season.

‘He can score important goals and he’s a very clever player, versatile as well. He’s mainly played on the left, but he can come inside. He’s a big fan favourite as well.

‘Looking at Gabriel Martinelli, it’s been a frustrating few years for him. Ben White, yeah, again, I’m sure there’s defenders coming to the club so he might feel like it’s time to go.

‘I can see Gabriel Jesus going as well, certainly if Arsenal buy another striker which it looks like they’re trying to do.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DZAzItJjOhA/?hl=en&img_index=1

‘I think he would be the first one that they would try and offload. But Leandro Trossard, for me, is one you wouldn’t want to let go.’

While Trossard has attracted interest from Al-Diraiyah and Besiktas, he is also believed to be a possible target for Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Aston Villa.

Speaking at the end of last season, Trossard said he expected to stay at Arsenal and see out the final year of his contract at the Emirates.

‘At the moment, yes,’ Trossard said when asked if he would remain at Arsenal beyond the World Cup.

‘I still have one year on my contract, and hopefully, first we win the Champions League. Then I think next season can be another very nice season.’

Trossard has started both of Belgium’s World Cup group games to date, a 1-1 draw with Egypt and a goalless draw with Iran.

Those two results leave Belgium’s World Cup fate hanging by a thread ahead of their final Group G clash against New Zealand on Saturday.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Comments


Add as preferred source