Arsenal reportedly still hold an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund playmaker Julian Brandt and could consider a summer swoop for the 26-year-old.
Brandt has long been linked with a move to the Premier League leaders over the past few years, but he has remained loyal to Dortmund since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019.
However, the Germany international is yet to pen an extension on the terms that he signed upon his arrival, and he is due to become a free agent at the end of next season.
Dortmund could therefore come under pressure to sell Brandt this summer before he walks away for nothing in 2024, and he would seemingly not be short of suitors amid an eye-catching season for Edin Terzic's side.
Brandt has nine goals and five assists under his belt from 31 games in all competitions this term, scoring eight times and setting up four more in 23 Bundesliga outings.
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The former Wolfsburg youth product had netted in four successive Bundesliga games prior to Friday's win over RB Leipzig, and he has also made five starts in the Champions League this season.
According to German outlet Bild, Arsenal remain attentive to Brandt's situation and could make a move for the German this summer if he opts not to renew his Dortmund contract.
The report states that Brandt would welcome a change of scenery at this stage of his career, and he has informed his entourage that he would be interested in a move to the Premier League.
Brandt was supposedly on the radar of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in 2017, but then-sporting director Michael Edwards blocked a move in favour of signing Mohamed Salah from Roma, despite Klopp's initial doubts over the Egyptian.
Since joining for a €25m (£22.1m) fee from Leverkusen in the summer of 2019, Brandt has made 158 appearances for Dortmund in all tournaments, scoring 29 goals and setting up 30 more.
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The Bremen-born midfielder has one DFB-Pokal title and one German Super Cup to show from his time at Dortmund, and he was an unused substitute throughout Germany's short-lived 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
While adept in the number 10 role, Brandt has recently been deployed as a winger - an area where Arsenal may be looking for additional cover in the summer transfer window.
Nicolas Pepe - currently on loan at Nice - seemingly does not have a future at the club, and it remains to be seen if Marquinhos is deemed ready for regular first-team football when he finishes his spell at Norwich City.
As a result, only Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira can deputise for Bukayo Saka on the right wing, although the former came up with a crucial assist and last-minute goal off the bench in Saturday's dramatic 3-2 win over Bournemouth.
Nelson's contributions kept Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, and Mikel Arteta claimed after the game that the 23-year-old was "on a different level".
Ben Knapton
