Arsenal Learn Worrying Julian Brandt Transfer Fee

Take a Leaf Out of Bayern Munich’s Book

[insert infamous Ivan Gazidis quote]

Arsenal are so far off Bayern Munich it’s frightening. The calibre of player that either club can aim for, and indeed the calibre of player that either club possesses, is miles apart. No discussion about that.

However, Bayern are an elite side because they make wise decisions in the transfer market and it was their call to opt out of a move for Brandt when Bayer Leverkusen were selling – he was deemed to be lacking the right mentality or consistency to cut it at the Allianz Arena.

Considering the gap, are Arsenal in a position to be turning their noses up at a £22.5m player who was once on Bayern’s radar? Being realistic about where they are, perhaps not.

Bayern, however, don’t miss. They recruit efficiently and well, even opting against signing Nicolas Pepe as he was classed as needing too much space to be effective in a side that sees the majority of the ball. They weren’t wrong on that one.

Moving away from the best football team in the world, the lack of interest from elsewhere, at least to public knowledge, doesn’t bode too well either. Balanced out with the minimal asking price, and you’re left in slight limbo.

Affordable, yes. But only affordable because Dortmund are happy to ship him off at break even despite having over three years left on his contract. Furthermore, he was turned down by one of the best scouting departments in Europe who love plucking the best German talent from the Bundesliga.

It’s tough to judge a player who’s barely featured this season, and there is every chance the Premier League would suit him, but on this case there are more than a few alarm bells to take note of.