Bayer Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt is the latest young German talent to be linked with a move to join Jurgen Klopp‘s Liverpool.
The Reds are already rumoured to be interested in Brandt’s team-mate, centre-back Jonathan Tah, with the Germany international mooted for a January move to Merseyside.
Joining Tah on Klopp’s speculative radar is Brandt, who has been in excellent form since joining Leverkusen from VfL Wolfsburg.
According to German publication Express, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Manchester City and Juventus are also pursuing the 20-year-old, who is already in his fourth season in the first-team squad at Leverkusen.
His current contract is said to run until 2019, with a £10.75 million release clause set to be activated in 2018.
Brandt’s father and agent, Papa, has explained that while his son could extend his deal with Leverkusen, the “timing” of other offers could turn his attention in the future.
“Of course, there is interest, but there are no negotiations or preliminary talks with other clubs,” he said.
“Julian decides what he is doing. This is often a decision of the belly, in which timing also plays an important role.
“We are always in touch with Bayer. I think that we’ll get together in the summer of 2017 at the latest to decide how to go on. I can understand that Leverkusen wants clarity.”
This suggests that there will be talks between Leverkusen and the Brandts at the end of the season, and this could be when Liverpool opt to make their move.
A double swoop for Brandt and Tah would provide Klopp with two exceptional young talents both capable of immediately improving his squad.
Brandt is a natural left winger who is also capable of operating on the right flank, and he registered 10 goals and eight assists in 44 games in all competitions last season.
Though he has started slower this campaign, with one goal and two assists in 14 games, he has still impressed when called upon.
Leverkusen are currently eighth in the Bundesliga table, however, and while it remains early in the season, if they fail to qualify for European competition, Klopp could have his opening.
Links between Liverpool and both Brandt and Tah are questionable at this stage, however, particularly with Express and the Mail recently presenting different views on the future of another Reds target, Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud.
But interest in both is conceivable, given Klopp’s Bundesliga links and the gaps in his squad.
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