As reported via Bild, Newcastle and Arsenal have shown significant interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt. There is an understanding that BvB could be willing to listen to offers around the €50m mark.
It is understood that Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Brandt, while his phenomenal performance against Newcastle in the Champions League has forced the Magpies to consider the former Bayer Leverkusen as a potential midfield target. With the absence of Sandro Tonalo for the remainder of the campaign, a bid to sign Brandt in January may be a priority for Eddie Howe’s side.
However, a winter move is currently considered to be very unlikely, as Dortmund’s sporting director Sebastian Kehl explained during a recent interview with Bild: “It’s not for nothing that we only extended the long-term deal with Jullian Brandt until 2026 in April. He is a very important part of our team. That’s why changing is not an issue at all!”
Therefore, it is clear to see that Die Schwarzgelben are not looking to offload Brandt anytime soon. However, if his performances continue to outshine Dortmund’s, then more interest in the 27-year-old will be expected.
So far this season, Brandt has established himself as one of Dortmund’s most influential players, alongside goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. With six goals and five assists in all competitions for the Black and Yellows, Brandt has been key to unlocking the quality in Dortmund’s forward line.
With the current crisis surrounding Dortmund, the possibility of losing their star player could send the club spiralling down. While they are only ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen with Brandt in the side, how big could the difference be if he were to leave?
GGFN | Will Shopland
