Rumour Mongering: Liverpool to Return for Julian Brandt

Liverpool tried to sign Brandt in 2017 but failed. Now the rumour mongers have them back in for the 22-year-old.

Two summers ago, Jürgen Klopp sought to strengthen his attack by bringing in Bayer Leverkusen forward Julian Brandt. When it became clear a deal couldn’t be done, the Reds quickly turned their attentions towards Mohamed Salah.

Hardly a bad move, in retrospect. But two years down the road and Klopp and Liverpool could still end up with Brandt. At least according to a smattering of German reports from the likes of Bild and Kicker and as re-told for English audiences by The Mirror.

They’re the ones peddling the story today that Liverpool could be going back for the now 22-year-old German international as a versatile forward option who would replace Adam Lallana—who is expected to depart this summer—in the squad.

One reason for the story, obviously, is that Klopp is a known admirer of the player—who’s in the age range and at a position likely to be targeted this summer. Another is that it is now being suggested he could be had for €25M this summer.

For a player of Brandt’s age and talent—he has a goal or assist every 138 minutes for Leverkusen this season—that would represent an absolute steal, and it would be thanks to a release clause that kicks in at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Brandt fits the profile of potential target, such a release clause would make him an undervalued asset, and we know Klopp likes him. Plus there’s the part where Timo Werner—long presumed to be the top target—appears set for Bayern Munich.

As always in the land of rumour mongering it’s hard to say just how much truth there is to it all, but add it up and at the very least it makes a whole lot of sense, with 2017’s Plan A attacking target potentially becoming 2019’s Plan B.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com