Liverpool could finally move for Julian Brandt, the German attacker Jurgen Klopp was reportedly a big fan of, nine years after the club were first linked with him. Brandt, now 30, is available on a free transfer after leaving Borussia Dortmund, where he scored 57 goals in 307 appearances over seven seasons.
Brandt's Availability and Versatility
Brandt can play across the front line, mainly as an advanced midfielder but also on either flank — an attribute Liverpool are said to be looking for this season as manager Andoni Iraola rebuilds the team's attack. He offers a substantial goal threat, with 48 goals and 45 assists from the left, 19 goals and 14 assists from the right, and 37 goals and 66 assists from the No. 10 role.
His injury history is promising, having missed just three games for Dortmund last season and only five the season before that. A former Germany international, Brandt burst onto the scene as a teenager, making his Bayer Leverkusen debut before age 18 and was linked with Manchester United, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich.
Klopp's Interest and the Salah Decision
In summer 2017, Klopp was reportedly eager to bring Brandt to Anfield, but instead was urged to sign Mohamed Salah from Roma for £36 million. Salah went on to score 257 goals for Liverpool, winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League. Klopp later tempered the idea that he advocated for Brandt over Salah, but admitted to speaking to the forward. "There is always a story that I wanted to sign Julian Brandt or someone like that," Klopp told The Anfield Wrap. "The situation with that is if you go for a winger, you talk to seven or eight. Yes, we spoke to him, but we spoke to Salah."
Brandt's Character and Potential Move
Brandt seems to be of honest character. Speaking in 2017 amid Klopp's interest, he told Kicker: "My gut feeling and my head are telling me the time to move has not arrived yet. I have to straighten things out in Leverkusen." He stayed true to his word and played on for another two seasons at the Bayer Arena.
With Liverpool looking to spend over £80 million on targets like RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande and PSG's Bradley Barcola, signing Brandt for free could be a "no brainer." The very idea of Brandt succeeding Salah all these years later feels surreal, but it just might work.
