Arsenal are preparing a formal contract proposal to sign Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt next summer, according to TEAMtalk.
After sealing a switch from Bayer Leverkusen in July 2019 for a fee well above his £25m Transfermarkt valuation, Brandt has become a mainstay at Borussia Dortmund, making 304 appearances in all competitions while contributing 57 goals and 70 assists.
Throughout his spell with Die Borussen, the 29-year-old has secured both the DFB-Pokal and the DFL-Supercup, and he also played a crucial role in the club’s run to the 2024 UEFA Champions League Final under Edin Terzić, where Real Madrid defeated them.
In the current campaign, Brandt has remained a key figure for Dortmund, registering 11 goals and four assists in what could prove to be his final season at Signal Iduna Park.
With his contract now approaching its end while still in his prime years, the midfielder represents an attractive option for elite clubs, and it is no surprise that several sides are monitoring his situation with a view to securing his signature.
One of the clubs looking to sign Brandt is Arsenal, according to TEAMtalk, which claims that the club’s sporting director, Andrea Berta, is plotting a swoop to sign the 29-year-old in the summer.
Bargain swoop
However, the report adds that the Gunners face stern competition from Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati for the German midfielder’s signature.
Despite the keen interest from other clubs, it appears Arsenal are looking to steal a march on their rivals, as TEAMtalk reports that the north London club are ready to submit a formal contract offer to sign the German international next summer.
Mikel Arteta has consistently emphasised the importance of making his side less predictable and harder for rivals to handle.
He stated, ‘The idea is to be more unpredictable every year, to become more difficult for the opponents to stop and nullify what we want to do.’
A key route to achieving that is through positional flexibility within the squad, and Julian Brandt would provide a range of tactical solutions given his capacity to operate across several roles.
In addition to his quality in possession, the Germany international also brings a tireless off-ball work rate, which aligns well with the standards Arteta demands of his team.