Besiktas Plot Move for Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard as Arteta Prioritises Attacking Depth
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard has become a major name on Beşiktaş’s summer shortlist, with the Turkish giants exploring the possibility of luring the Belgian forward to Istanbul. However, the north London club are strongly inclined to keep hold of the player, viewing him as a crucial part of their attacking structure heading into another demanding season.
Reports indicate that Beşiktaş are carefully tracking the 31-year-old’s situation at Arsenal, hoping that an opportunity might arise later in the window. The Turkish side are keen to add a proven, experienced wide forward capable of influencing big matches immediately, and Trossard fits that profile perfectly.
The interest from Turkey is far from isolated. Atlético Madrid are also believed to be admirers, while several cash-rich clubs from the Saudi Pro League have made their presence felt. The combination of his age, experience at the highest level, and tactical intelligence makes Trossard an obvious target for teams looking to add ready-made quality rather than long-term projects.
For Arsenal, though, there is no rush to cash in. Mikel Arteta is known to value players who can perform in multiple positions, and Trossard is almost a textbook example of that versatility. The Belgian is comfortable operating off the left wing, can function as a false nine, fill the role just behind the central striker, or enter from the bench to change the tempo of a game. This tactical flexibility is one of the main reasons the club are resistant to any sale.
As the Gunners prepare to defend their Premier League crown and juggle a demanding Champions League campaign, squad flexibility has been identified as essential rather than optional. The coaching staff want at least two reliable options in every attacking role, particularly in wide areas, to avoid fatigue and injuries derailing their season. In that context, losing an experienced attacker without a ready-made replacement would be seen as an avoidable gamble.
Arsenal’s recruitment strategy this summer is expected to include the search for a new left-sided winger, ideally younger and with high long-term potential. But even with that plan in motion, the club’s hierarchy is wary of weakening the current squad before any incoming deals are completed. Offloading Trossard too early – or without securing a top-level successor – would run counter to their broader squad-building strategy.
Trossard’s performances during the 2025/26 campaign underline why Arsenal are in no hurry to let him leave. Across 26 Premier League appearances, he contributed six goals and five assists, notable numbers for a player who is often rotated and asked to adapt to different roles from match to match. His ability to deliver end product without needing to be the focal point of the attack gives Arteta tactical freedom to adjust his line-up depending on the opponent.
Age is naturally a consideration in any long-term planning. Now in his early thirties, Trossard represents the more experienced end of Arsenal’s forward line. The club does intend, over time, to bring in younger wide players and gradually reduce the average age of the attacking unit. Yet that process is seen as evolutionary rather than abrupt. Unless a remarkable financial bid arrives, paired with the possibility of immediately signing a younger alternative of similar quality, Arsenal’s preference is to keep the Belgian in place.
From Beşiktaş’s perspective, pushing for Trossard makes strategic sense. The Turkish side are attempting to rebuild a squad capable of challenging domestically and making an impression in Europe. A player who has proven himself in the Premier League, understands positional rotations, and can deliver both goals and assists would instantly raise the team’s attacking ceiling. For a club trying to blend experience with emerging talent, Trossard is almost an ideal profile.
The appeal is not limited to his output. Trossard has shown throughout his career that he can integrate quickly into new dressing rooms and adapt to different tactical systems. In a league like the Süper Lig, where games often shift between high intensity and slow, tactical battles, his game intelligence and movement between the lines could be particularly valuable. That is precisely why Beşiktaş are prepared to monitor the situation patiently rather than rushing into alternative targets.
Atlético Madrid’s interest adds another layer of complexity. A move to Spain would offer Trossard the chance to experience another of Europe’s top leagues under a tactical system that often relies on work rate, discipline, and counter-attacking quality – all traits he possesses. However, Atlético typically look for deals that are financially sensible and may not be prepared to meet the kind of fee Arsenal would demand for such a key squad player.
The Saudi Pro League interest, by contrast, is likely to be accompanied by sizeable financial proposals. For players in their thirties, those offers can be career-defining. Yet from Arsenal’s standpoint, money alone is not enough. Any sale would need to support the team’s broader ambitions: sustaining a title challenge, progressing deep in Europe, and maintaining a competitive squad across four competitions. Letting go of a trusted, versatile attacker purely for financial gain would contradict those sporting goals unless an elite replacement were lined up.
Another critical factor is Trossard’s specific role in Arteta’s game model. Arsenal’s attacking patterns frequently involve interchanging positions, with wide forwards drifting centrally and central players occupying the flanks. Trossard’s comfort in tight spaces, his ability to receive the ball between the lines, and his calmness in front of goal make him particularly suited to this fluid style. Losing a player who understands these automatisms could disrupt the continuity Arteta has painstakingly built.
There is also the psychological dimension: Trossard is an established senior figure in the dressing room, used to the pressure of title races and Champions League nights. For younger attacking talents breaking into the side, having an experienced professional ahead of them provides a reference point in terms of standards, preparation, and mentality. Selling him would not just be the loss of a player but the loss of a mentor-like presence within the forward group.
From the player’s angle, several variables will matter: guaranteed minutes, the level of competition, and the chance to compete for major trophies. At Arsenal, Trossard may not start every match, but he is heavily involved across the season and trusted in big games. A move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia could offer a more central role and potentially lucrative terms, but possibly at the cost of stepping away from the very highest level of European competition. A switch to La Liga would preserve the sporting challenge, but only if he is promised a meaningful place in Atlético’s plans.
Financially, any deal for Trossard would need to reflect his status as a proven performer in a top league. Arsenal are unlikely to entertain cut-price offers, especially with the current inflation in the transfer market for forwards. That pricing stance serves a dual purpose: it deters casual interest and signals that the player is considered important, even if his age technically places him closer to the end of his peak years.
All of this leaves Beşiktaş in a delicate position. Their interest is genuine and long-standing, but they are dealing with a club that is aiming to remain at the top of English football and contend in Europe. Unless Arsenal’s priorities shift or a chain reaction of transfers opens a window of opportunity, the Turkish side may find that Trossard is simply out of reach this summer.
Still, transfer windows are rarely straightforward. A major incoming signing on the left wing, a change in the player’s own career priorities, or a particularly strong offer from abroad could alter the landscape quickly. For now, Arsenal’s stance is clear: Trossard is a key piece in maintaining the depth and flexibility of their attack, and any move from Istanbul, Madrid, or Saudi Arabia will have to overcome that firm internal conviction.