Arsenal...1 Spurs.....0 Arteta snatches £27m Trossard
ARSENAL are close to completing a £27million swoop for Brighton forward Leandro Trossard, edging out north London rivals Tottenham for the Belgian’s signature.
The Gunners reached an agreement over a fee for the 28-year-old yesterday, with a medical set to be completed in the next 24 hours. Brighton will receive a guaranteed figure of around £20m, plus £7m in achievable add-ons.
Trossard’s advisers are due to arrive in London today to agree personal terms, which are expected to be a formality.
Sportsmail understands that the player can expect to double his current salary to around £90,000 a week with the Premier League leaders.
Spurs were also interested in Trossard and are understood to have made a verbal offer to Brighton last week, which was rejected.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been searching for a new forward this month and looked set to sign Mykhailo Mudryk, but Chelsea’s late intervention shattered their hopes of sealing a deal for the £88m Ukrainian.
Trossard has been training alone at Brighton amid an ongoing stand-off with manager Roberto De Zerbi — as revealed by Sportsmail last week.
He was axed for their 3-0 win over Liverpool last weekend but could now be in the Arsenal squad to face Manchester United on Sunday. Trossard’s existing deal expires at the end of the season, though Brighton hold an option to extend his contract by 12 months. However, the attacker has made it clear he wants to leave. Trossard, a Lego enthusiast in his spare time, will become a key building block in Arsenal’s title charge, supplementing first- choice wingers Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. The Gunners’ only other out-and- out wingers are Reiss Nelson and Marquinhos, both of whom are low on experience.
It remains to be seen how Trossard takes to a more peripheral role under Arteta but his Premier League experience will come as a major boost. His versatility is also a significant asset, as he is able to play on either flank or as a No 10. l ARSENAL have been fined £40,000 for failing to control their players during their FA Cup tie at Oxford United earlier this month. Meanwhile, Spurs forward Richarlison has escaped punishment for his altercation with Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale at the end of Sunday’s north London derby.