The £200m Leandro Trossard transfer question splitting Arsenal as title credentials gambled

Just when you thought the transfer window had come to a close, news drops that Arsenal are the subject of a bid for one of their key players to bring the reality and chaos of the summer market to your front door once again. Thankfully, the story crumbled almost quickly as it emerged, as Al-Ittihad’s €35million (£29.4million) total offer for Leandro Trossard was swiftly rejected.

The deal would have caused chaos among supporters had the club taken a different approach and looked to cash in on the 29-year-old who they bought for £20million plus £7million in add-ons less than two years prior. That said, the deal made little sense to the Gunners even despite the potential to earn a slight profit.

After the permanent departures of Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah and the loan of Reiss Nelson, only Raheem Sterling and a now injured Mikel Merino came in leaving Arteta with six natural options for the striker and wide roles. Sterling joins former Chelsea teammate Kai Havertz and former Man City colleague Gabriel Jesus with fellow England international Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – Trossard makes up the six.

Dropping down to five, even with the youngster Ethan Nwaneri potentially an option despite being more naturally a central attacking midfielder, would have been incredibly thin. Arsenal return from the international break with three straight away games against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City in the space of a week.

Not having access to Trossard while Merino is out and Jesus is a doubt would be a nightmare. Therefore it appears impossible that Arsenal would ever have even considered a move.

But, it got me thinking; what would it have taken for Arsenal to consider a move? And what number would have got fans considering a change of stance on the idea?

We know the Saudi Arabian league has been spending money at an incredible rate and willing to offer inflated fees compared to market valuations and massive wages too. Therefore what number would have been big enough?

£100million? £150million? £200million? These are massive numbers and entirely unrealistic but they do bring with them a lesson of context and the importance of both the players available to Arteta and how few senior options are available to him until at least the January transfer window.

With the expanded Champions League first phase and having already dropped points in controversial circumstances to Brighton, Arsenal have perhaps never needed the resources in their squad more than right now. Yet, the question lingers, what would have been your number to release Trossard at this stage of the season, unable to bring in a replacement for another few months? Vote in our poll down below.