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Brighton & Hove Albion have reportedly rejected a verbal offer from Tottenham Hotspur to sign Leandro Trossard.
The 28-year-old faces an uncertain future at the Amex Stadium as his current contract is due to expire at the end of the season.
Trossard has enjoyed an impressive 2022-23 campaign for the Seagulls, contributing with seven goals and three assists in 16 appearances across all competitions.
The Belgium international represented his country at the 2022 World Cup, but failed to register either a goal or an assist in three group-stage matches as the Red Devils crashed out in disappointing fashion at the first hurdle.
Trossard has since struggled to regain his form since returning to Brighton and has been left out of Roberto De Zerbi’s starting lineup in the last two matches against Everton and Middlesbrough.
Former Seagulls manager Graham Potter, now in charge at Chelsea, is said to be interested in reuniting with Trossard, while Arsenal and Newcastle United have also been credited with an interest in the attacker.
Spurs, meanwhile, are the latest name to be linked with the former Genk forward and are allegedly keeping tabs on his contract situation.
According to Football Insider, Antonio Conte’s side have in fact submitted a verbal offer to sign Trossard this month.
However, the Seagulls are understood to have turned down Tottenham’s offer and they have no intention of letting their star attacker leave the club in January.
Asked about Trossard’s long-term future at Brighton last week, De Zerbi told The Athletic: “I don’t know. I think he’s one of the best players for us and one of the most important players for us.
“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 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% in every training session and every game. Without these characteristics, then they can’t play with me.”
Since joining Brighton in the summer of 2019, Trossard has scored 25 goals and provided 14 assists in 121 appearances across all tournaments, and he has helped the Seagulls climb to eighth place in the Premier League table this season.
Trossard will be hoping to force his way back into Brighton’s starting lineup for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool, who the Belgian netted a hat-trick against in a 3-3 draw earlier this campaign
