Who is Liverpool target Julian Brandt?
A 20 year-old German winger, Julian Brandt has been attracting a host of clubs including Liverpool, Manchester United and Bayern Munich after impressing this season for Bayer Leverkusen.
Between March 20 and April 30 last year he became the youngest player since Gerd Müller to score in six consecutive Bundesliga matches, so there’s quite a bit of expectation on his shoulders.
What’s his style of play?
Despite normally operating on the left wing in Leverkusen he can play well on either flank. He is primarily a provider with six assists to his name already this season. He can also chip in with a few goals, but has only found himself with two so far in the German top flight this season. However he does have 18 league goals overall for the club.
Known for his dribbling and passing prowess he is a player who likes to take on his full-back, which makes him a Jurgen Klopp style of player. He has been known to neglect his defensive duties - not something Klop pwould be keen on - but this is something the Reds boss no doubt feels he could work into him with time.
What clubs has he played for?
Despite being at the BayArena since 2014, his career actually began at SC Borgfeld under the guidance of his father/coach Jurgen Brandt. A move to minnows Oberneuland followed, then VfL Wolfsburg who sold him to Leverkusen for £300k as an 18 year-old.
What’s been said about him?
After being included in Germany’s preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2016, he missed out on the final 23, Joachim Low said about the youngster “He’s a player who can find solutions for one-on-one situations, you can play against defensive teams with them.”
Not only content with a glowing recommendation from a World Cup winning Coach, Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller has labelled him “one of the most talented players in German football”. So it sounds like he’s pretty decent.
How much will he cost and will he move?
Certainly a lot more than the £350k Leverkusen paid for his services! He is currently valued at £14m but the German side will probably require much more money in order to let the winger move to Anfield. The prospect himself has come out and said he’d rebuff approaches from Bayern Munich again, after declining them and moving to Leverkusen three years ago. He wants first team football, something he might feel he’d have a chance of at Liverpool.
Anything else?
He was nominated for the European Golden Boy award in 2016, but lost out to Portuguese EURO 2016 sensation Renato Sanches. He has an Olympic silver medal in his trophy cabinet and a European U19 championship Gold medal. Not bad for a 20year-old. He also worked as an office administrator during his youth years at Wolfsburg, so he knows how to graft.