Newcastle United have been linked with a move for Brighton and Hove Albion sensation Leandro Trossard of late, following the Belgian's sparkling start to the new season.
What's the word?
Recent reports have claimed that the 28-year-old is on the Magpies' list of targets ahead of the January transfer window, with the forward facing something of an uncertain future at the Amex with his current deal set to expire at the end of the season.
While the Seagulls do have the option of extending that contract by a further 12 months, rumours are swirling that the 24-cap marksman could be set for pastures new sooner rather than later, with a reunion with former boss Graham Potter at Chelsea having also been mooted.
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie - speaking to GIVEMESPORT - has now provided his thoughts regarding a potential move to bring the winger to St James' Park, with the journalist suggesting that it could well be an attractive addition as far as manager Eddie Howe is concerned.
He stated: “I think Trossard would be a really good fit. I can see why he’s being mentioned, and I could see that being the sort of player that Eddie Howe would welcome to the club.
“He’s young, he’s already an international player, he’s played in the Premier League before and he ticks a lot of boxes.”
Newcastle's own Foden
The former Genk ace - who arrived in England on a £15m deal in 2019 - is a player no doubt familiar to the northeast side's sporting director Dan Ashworth due to the latter man's Brighton connections.
The Englishman could well utilise that relationship to try and get the 5 foot 7 menace through the door in the New Year, with Trossard having warranted such interest amid his "unreal" displays of late, as described by pundit Rio Ferdinand.
Amid what has been a fine start to the season for Roberto De Zerbi's side - with the south coast outfit currently seventh in the table - the £42.5k-per-week maestro has arguably been the standout presence, scoring seven times and laying on three assists in just 14 top-flight outings to take his total tally at the club to 25 goals and 14 assists in 118 games.
That record has seen him mirror Manchester City starlet Phil Foden's start to the campaign, as the Englishman also has seven goals and three assists to his name in the league, with the pair also said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities, as per FBref.
Not only do the two men typically operate off the left flank, but they are also alike as a result of their willingness to make things happen in the final third, with Trossard ranking in the top 15% for touches in the attacking penalty area among those in his position in Europe, while Foden also ranks in the top 15% for the same metric.
The pair are also clinical figures in attack from their wide berth, as the Brighton ace averages 0.41 non-penalty goals per 90, while his City counterpart averages slightly ahead at 0.46 per 90 in that regard.
To be compared to the Three Lions ace is some praise indeed, with the Etihad starlet having notably been dubbed a "generational talent" by pundit Gary Neville, after scoring 53 goals and 36 assists in 189 games and winning a plethora of major honours for the champions to date.
Should Newcastle be able to land their own Foden-esque talent in the form of Trossard it would certainly be a huge coup for the club, with Ashworth needing to do all he can to win the race for the player's signature.