Arsenal closely monitoring Germany star after major transfer announcement | Football

Arsenal are reportedly mulling over a free transfer move for Julian Brandt after it was confirmed that the attacker will probably be leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summertime.

Brandt, 29, joined Dortmund in a €25million (£21.6m) take care of Bayer Leverkusen back in 2019 and has since gone on to make 298 appearances in all competitions for the club.

In that point, Brandt has racked up 56 goals and 69 assists for BVB, though the side’s DFB-Pokal triumph back in 2021 stays his only piece of silverware thus far.

With a milestone three hundredth appearance for Dortmund on the horizon, Brandt will little doubt be seeking to bow out on a high this summer after seven years of service at Westfalenstadion.

‘After open talks, we agreed that the contract that is ready to run out wouldn’t be renewed,’ BVB sporting director Lars Ricken told Sky Deutschland following Sunday’s 2-1 win over Koln.

‘He has a couple of hundred games for Dortmund. I believe we are able to only feel gratitude towards him.

‘He spent seven years with us and was sometimes viewed critically. Today, he arrange one other goal. I all the time appreciated his numbers.’

Ricken added: ‘He’ll turn 30 in a couple of weeks and we are able to look to maneuver in a rather latest direction.

‘It may well even be a possibility for each side.’

In keeping with Sky Deutschland, Brandt’s decision is ‘concrete’ and is not going to be reversed, meaning he’ll depart the club as a free agent upon the conclusion of the 2025/26 campaign.

It’s claimed Brandt desires to seal a move overseas and Dortmund have already begun looking for an acceptable substitute, with former fan favourite Jadon Sancho identified as a possible goal.

The report adds that Italy, England, Spain all ‘appeal’ as destinations for Brandt.

The latter is viewed as an especially ‘likely candidate’ given the attacking midfielder-cum-winger has a Spanish girlfriend and is fluent within the language.

Arsenal are also said to be closely monitoring developments having been credited with a powerful interest within the versatile Germany international previously.

After forking out within the region of £250m on latest signings last summer, the Premier League leaders are believed to be scouring the marketplace for out-of-contract talent to further bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad for next season.

It’s suggested Brandt can have to resign himself to being a bit-part squad player quite than an everyday starter should he complete a switch to either the Camp Nou or the Emirates.

As yet, there have been no formal discussions from potential suitors. Nonetheless, Brandt was the topic of ‘two concrete offers’ from the Premier League in January 2025.

Dortmund have held internal discussions regarding a proposed move to re-sign Sancho as Brandt’s successor, with the winger’s Manchester United contract set to run out in June.

There are, though, ‘critical voices’ inside BVB’s hierarchy surrounding the England international’s potential to rediscover the form of form that earned him a £73m move to Old Trafford four-and-a-half years ago.

Before the official confirmation of his impending departure, Brandt looked to reassure Dortmund fans that the speculation over his future wouldn’t ‘drag on’ and change into a distraction.

‘This won’t drag on until June or July,’ the previous Leverkusen man – who has been capped 48 times by Germany – explained last month.

‘That’s not my style. It’s a fundamental decision and it needs to be rigorously thought through.’

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