Borussia Dortmund Sign Liverpool-Linked Hazard and Brandt

Neither seemed likely to end up at Liverpool but it’s still two linked names off the table.

Though they were never considered likely to end up at Liverpool, both Julian Brandt and Thorgan Hazard have been at least lightly linked for much of the past year—and in the case of Brandt, Liverpool did try to sign him in 2017 before moving for Mohamed Salah.

Today, though, we can confirm that neither will in fact be joining the club, with both today announcing that they have joined Borussia Dortmund as Jürgen Klopp’s former side seek to re-invest in their squad following the departure of Christian Pulisic for Chelsea.

It appears a good bit of business by the Bundesliga club, who appear stronger with Brandt and Hazard in the fold today than they did at the end of the season with Pulisic. Each player is reportedly costing Dortmund around €25M while Pulisic was sold for €64M.

For Liverpool, while some were hopeful the Reds would sign them—with Brandt a particular favourite—nothing solid suggested the club was actually trying to do a deal for either, and that they were linked appeared likely a bargaining tactic by the selling clubs.

It is widely believed Liverpool will sign one versatile player capable of providing forward depth, one fullback, and—assuming Simon Mignolet leaves—a new backup goalkeeper. Any further signings would likely be young prospects or targets of opportunity.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com