Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth is ‘on board’ with the prospective signing of Brighton and Hove Albion forward Leandro Trossard, according to transfer expert Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Two-horse race

Alongside the Magpies, Premier League rivals Chelsea have also recently been credited with an interest in the 27-year-old, who will reportedly cost potential suitors £25m should they want to secure his services.

The Belgian has admitted that he could leave the Amex Stadium at some point in the near future, with his preferred option being the Blues, although a move to St James’ Park could still be a real possibility.

The Latest: Newcastle eyeing Trossard

Asked by GiveMeSport whether Newcastle were seen as serious competitors to land Trossard amid the Chelsea interest, Jones said:

"Yeah, they are. He's someone that is definitely on the radar. Obviously, Dan Ashworth is the man that's going to need to be convinced over any signing, but I'm told that he is on board with this."

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The Verdict: Would be a massive coup

Should PIF successfully sign Trossard, it would be a massive coup for Eddie Howe’s side, and the Belgian should only make Newcastle's attacking ranks even stronger.

The Seagulls star has scored seven goals and has one assist to his name in 12 league appearances this season and is currently averaging 2.8 shots per 90 minutes (WhoScored).

That tally puts him level with the Magpies' leading scorer Miguel Almiron, while only Callum Wilson (three) has a higher shots-per-game average (WhoScored).

As it stands, Newcastle are three points above Chelsea in the Premier League table, and given their hugely impressive start to the campaign, there’s no reason why Trossard couldn’t be convinced to opt for Tyneside over west London.