Leandro Trossard has risked the wrath of Brighton fans by admitting he would join Chelsea to reunite with former boss Graham Potter if the chance presented itself to him.
The Belgian international became Potter’s second signing at the Amex in 2019 for £18m from Genk, and he has gone on to establish himself as one of Brighton’s most influential players.
Since joining the Seagulls, Trossard has become a fully-fledged Belgium international, making his debut in 2020 and racking up 21 caps in that time, and proven himself an elite-level Premier League player.
Potter departed Brighton earlier this month to succeed the recently-ousted Thomas Tuchel in the Chelsea hotseat, and Trossard has admitted he would follow suit if the Blues were to lodge a bid for him.
Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Trossard said: “Our coach did leave for Chelsea now but speculation about me following him makes no sense.
“If the opportunity arises, I want to go. But I want to play and not sit on the bench.”
Reflecting on his current form at Brighton, Trossard has been impressed by their fast start to the 2022/23 Premier League season, with the club currently fourth in the table after six games.
The 27-year-old has been a revelation in the Premier League since trading Belgium for Brighton, and he believes his skillset is only enhancing further in the rigours of top flight English football.
Trossard continued: “I feel very good. We have had a very good start with Brighton. I have evolved enormously.
“I now know how Premier League works. I grew a lot in that. Confidence, mentally, physically,… I have gotten better. I’ve mastered the tricks now.”
Belgium recently concluded their 2022/23 Nations League campaign by coming up short to the Netherlands, losing 1-0. That result — decided by Virgil van Dijk — ensured Belgium finished second in Group A4, while the Netherlands have progressed to the final four.