According to Transfermarkt, as cited by Transfer Market Web, Arsenal have expressed a desire to sign Julian Brandt. The Borussia Dortmund star has once again appeared on the radar of Mikel Arteta, who is determined to bolster his options in the attacking midfield position. Brandt is a desirable target due to his low €25 million valuation, and the Gunners should make a decision on whether they want him this summer.
Why Are Arsenal Gunning For Brandt?
Arsenal‘s interest in Brandt stems from their lack of depth in the creative unit. They have lost Mesut Ozil earlier this year while both Dani Ceballos and Martin Odegaard returned to Real Madrid following the end of their respective loan deals.
New signing Willian is yet to hit the ground running, thus forcing Arteta to often appear over-reliant on the services of the young academy duo of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe.
Saka, in particular, has emerged as the creator-in-chief for Arsenal. But the departure of Odegaard has left a massive void in the number ten position and that is where Arsenal need some fixing.
While Smith Rowe can certainly operate as an attacking midfielder, the north London giants need more quality and experience in that role. That is where the club has once again set its sights on Brandt, who has years of Bundesliga experience under his belt.
Why Arteta Should Avoid Signing Brandt
On paper, Julian Brandt appears to be an ideal option for Arsenal. During his time at Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, the playmaker has gained a significant amount of experience at the highest level of football, with a total of 229 appearances in the Bundesliga.
However, over the last couple of seasons, the former Wolfsburg prodigy has endured a rapid decline. His fitness has taken a toll and the player has failed to make an impression in the Dortmund camp, causing Lucien Favre to often overlook him in his first-team plans.
The 25-year-old even failed to muster 1,500 minutes of league football last season, falling behind several players in the pecking order including the inexperienced American teenager Giovanni Reyna.
Brandt’s fortunes didn’t improve much under Edin Terzic and it is unlikely to get any better under Marco Rose, especially following the arrival of Donyell Malen. His performances have been far too dismal for a player of his calibre and given his lack of enthusiasm, the Dortmund star may struggle to settle into the Premier League.
Therefore, it would perhaps be a wiser option for Arsenal to avoid signing Brandt this summer. Although the German is valued at €25 million, his chances of succeeding at Emirates are minimal and so the Gunners must set their sights elsewhere.
