Why Man Utd's Trossard transfer pursuit makes perfect sense
Robin Bairner
- 9 Jun 2022 09:49 BST
- 3 min read
Leandro Trossard might not be the sexiest name linked with a transfer to Manchester United in recent seasons, but the Brighton attacking midfielder could be on of the smartest deals that the Red Devils might make.
RTBF reports that Man Utd and Newcastle are both monitoring the 27-year-old Belgium international, who has quietly impressed with the Seagulls since moving to England in a deal worth €20 million in 2019.
Indeed, there is much to admire about the former Genk player, who would buck the trend of recent superstar arrivals at Old Trafford in recent seasons.
Trossard might not be a player to get the pulse of the fans racing, but the arrivals of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo, who seemed so exciting last summer, resulted in a sixth-placed finish. Another, smarter, approach is clearly needed from Man Utd in the transfer market.
Why Man Utd should sign Trossard
Sin lugar a dudas, el GOL del día.
Increíble derechazo de Trossard que se cuelga en el segundo palo.
Goleada de Bélgica 6-1 vs. Polonia y esta obra de arte.
Gran presente en Premier League y hoy, doblete con su selección 🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/MuENdBAxBk— TR (@ContenidoTr) June 9, 2022
Firstly, he is a low-risk option. Valued at around the €19m mark by FootballTransfers, he would represent a relatively small investment for a club like Man Utd. Brighton have little strength to negotiate this price given that Trossard is out of contract next summer and, therefore, liable to leave on a free transfer.
Additionally, the Belgian is a player whose versatility and tactical intelligence could be maximised under Erik ten Hag. He can fill a variety of positions. Although he has typically been used as a left-sided midfielder, he can also play more centrally, as a No.10 or as a forward, and even as a left-back.
His record against big teams, meanwhile, is impressive. Eight goals in 34 Premier League matches is a solid return for a player at a mid-table club like Brighton, especially when it is considered that he found the target against Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United.
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Indeed, his display at the Amex against United, in which he scored one and set up two, would have been eye catching for Ten Hag, who would have known by that point in May that he was Old Trafford bound.
That momentum was carried into Belgium’s Nations League campaign, and on Wednesday he netted twice as Belgium beat Poland 6-1.
Trossard, then, may mark a departure from Man Utd’s usual superstar transfer policy, but it could prove a welcome one.
