Lee Dixon has lauded Julian Brandt as a ‘proper player’ amid reports Arsenal are chasing a transfer for the Borussia Dortmund star. He also feels the midfielder’s injury is a ‘big blow’.
Edin Terzic lost the 26-year-old five minutes into BVB’s defeat at Chelsea in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday. Brandt pulled up holding his thigh over the opening exchanges and would not continue. His Bundesliga club will now determine the severity of the injury.
Dixon believed Borussia Dortmund losing Brandt to an injury hurt their efforts to progress at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder has been in strong form for a number of weeks as one of Terzic’s star performers. But BVB would go on to lose 2-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 defeat.
Brandt arrived in west London with nine goals and five assists for the season so far over 32 games in all competitions. The 39-cap Germany international had offered four of his goals and two assists over BVB’s eight Bundesliga fixtures since their season resumed in January.
The Bremen-born maestro’s efforts at the Westfalenstadion have also attracted interest in his transfer from Premier League outfits. Bild reports that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur want to agree to a transfer with Borussia Dortmund to sign Brandt this summer at all costs.
Brandt has Arsenal and Tottenham exploring his transfer as the Borussia Dortmund star is out of contract in 2024. Christian Falk also adds that the Gunners have tracked the dynamo for a number of years. But Mikel Arteta’s team are now displaying more interest than ever.
Dixon issues his verdict on Arsenal transfer target Brandt of Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund also beat Arsenal and Tottenham to strike Brandt’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019, per ESPN. The Gunners and Spurs had also chased a deal before BVB triggered his €25m (£22m) release clause. But Brandt opted to stay in the Bundesliga then.
Yet Falk now notes that Brandt has long dreamed of one day playing in the Premier League and proving himself in England. So, Arsenal or Tottenham could now have a chance to seal his transfer. Borussia Dortmund must offer a very lucrative new contract to retain Brandt.
Whoever manages to lure Brandt from Borussia Dortmund in the next transfer window will sign a player Arsenal icon Dixon admires. The Gunners great praised what the German has offered Terzic in recent weeks while reacting to the winger-cum-central midfielder’s injury.
“Two players have just signalled to the bench that Brandt will need to go off,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “That’s a big blow because he is a proper player and in really good form, too.”
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