Arsenal is said to reignite their interest in Borussia Dortmund’s midfielder Julian Brandt. The new development came as a result of difficulties in making the loan move of Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid permanent.
Julian Brandt has been a target for Arsenal in the winter window, however, the move never materialized. The Gunners then brought Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid. However, the Spanish side’s demand is said to be too expensive for Arsenal.
Arsenal is currently nowhere near their historic levels. The club has fallen off its successful past and is now scrapping for places in the Europa League. Mikel Arteta was brought in to make the team better, however, the Spaniard’s tenure has been a mixed bag.
UNTOUCHABLE ODEGAARD
One position the club has been crying out for was the creative midfield role since Ozil was frozen out. Martin Odegaard has fitted well into this role after his loan move from Real Madrid this January.
Arsenal was looking to make the move permanent this summer, bringing in the Norwegian for as little as £25 million. Reports from Marca however suggested that Martin Odegaard is one of the 4 players that Real Madrid considers to be “untouchable” as they want to build their squad around them.
Another reason for the breakdown of the move is said to be the European Super League. The plan failed for the moment mainly because of the withdrawal of the English teams.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is said to be unhappy with the Premier League clubs for the decision. As a result, the club won’t provide any favor for Arsenal in their pursuit for Odegaard and will demand a higher price.
Arsenal after Brandt again
Brandt has struggled this season at Borussia Dortmund. He has not been able to cement his place in the starting eleven and played only around half of the total time available. Of the 28 Bundesliga matches that he has played this season he only started 16.
In the 2018/19 season, prior to his move to Dortmund, Brandt produced 7 goals and assisted 14 times in the Bundesliga. The German international has only 2 goals and 2 assists in this season of Bundesliga. Not getting enough minutes on the field have reduced his output drastically, affecting his confidence.
Arsenal was close to securing the 24-year-old earlier in the season. Bringing in Brandt will help to address their issues in the creative department. He is a player adept in multiple positions, often playing as an attacking midfielder or a left-winger.
For a player nearing their prime, it is important to play more minutes at this stage. Hence, it would be wise for Brandt to ensure a move where he can get that, especially with the FIFA World Cup coming in 2022. As for Dortmund, they will be willing to sell a player who is not starting regularly to fund their summer activities.
Also, follow our Twitter page for the latest updates on Indian football and La Liga.
