Arsenal are plotting a move for Jurgen Klopp favourite Julian Brandt after the Liverpool boss saw his swoop for the Borussia Dortmund star vetoed.
The Gunners are currently top of the Premier League after a brilliant season under Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard appears unlikely to want to stand still and is already eyeing additions to his squad.
According to German outlet Bild, Arsenal are among two clubs that are interested in a move for Dortmund midfielder Brandt, who is open to switching to the Premier League. He has apparently informed his close circle that a switch to England would appeal to him.
The German side also have a decision to make over the German’s signature sooner rather than later. Brandt, 26, has just under a year-and-a-half left on his contract at the Signal Iduna Park meaning that the upcoming window would represent Dortmund’s final chance to secure a considerable fee for his services.
Brandt has actually been linked with a move to Arsenal in the past. Reports in Germany suggested that the Gunners were interested last summer. However, Brandt refuted that a move was close.
Speaking to Sport1 last October, the midfielder said: “That [Arsenal speculation] was never remotely a serious issue for me. We talked earlier about football romance. If I was involved with another club or if there were any thoughts of a change, BVB would know immediately. I would let the club know first. Maybe I'm still a bit 'old school'.
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He also detailed that whilst he is currently happy with Dortmund, he is unsure over what his future holds. Asked if he could move sooner rather than later Brandt replied: “I never had a career plan and can therefore not answer the question. Everything is open to me.
“I feel comfortable here, but who knows where the wind will blow you. If everything goes well here, if we hug each other and I extend the contract, then I would be happy. But anything can happen. Therefore an assessment is difficult.”
Arsenal are in fact not the only club to have been linked with Brandt. Klopp’s Liverpool were noted as admirers in 2017 with Klopp keen to take his compatriot to Anfield.
The then Bayer Leverkusen star was a candidate for a move to Anfield - only for Michael Edwards to intervene and suggest a swoop for Mo Salah. Klopp apparently had doubts over a move for the Egyptian due to his time at Chelsea but eventually relented.
That appears to have been the right call with Salah going on to score 175 goals for the club since his arrival from Roma. In the meantime, Brandt moved to Dortmund and has gone on to make 157 appearances for the German club. with his nine-goal haul this season the joint-best of his career with the club.
