Sebastian Kehl cagey Julian Brandt’s Dortmund future: “A difficult situation.” | OneFootball

Asked to comment on a recent report offering up skeptical prospects on Julian Brandt’s future, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl effectively confirmed that Brandt’s Bundesliga club isn’t much interested in retaining the services of the 28-year-old. Kehl spoke to Sky Germany in a pre-kickoff interview ahead of Saturday’s league loss against Augsburg.

“There isn’t much to say about the current situation,” Kehl noted whether Brandt would remain a key player at BVB in the coming years. ”Of course we have a contract, but we are in a difficult situation. Julian knows that as well and will give it his all.”

Brandt’s current contract expires in 2026. Despite the fact that BVB head coach Niko Kovac recently emphasized the Bremen native’s importance to the team, a deep form dive throughs the 48-times-capped German international’s future with Dortmund in doubt.

Brandt has failed to provide a creative spark from the ten slot. Even in games when he’s gotten on the scoresheet (four goals in 32 appearances across all competitions this year), Brandt has looked noticeably weak off the ball. The timing of his through balls have been perpetually off.

Instead of scoring every 323 minutes as in the previous year, he is now only scoring every 610 minutes. In 13 games since the turn of the calendar, he has only been involved in four goals. He’s been very much emblematic of Dortmund’s crisis.

After following up a very weak performance in the Champions League midweek with another uninspiring game in Saturday’s 0-1 loss to Augsburg, the Dortmund front office surely leans more towards a “cash-in” summer sale.

Dortmund purchased Brandt for €25m from Bayer 04 Leverkusen just ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. He earned a contract extension back in April of 2023 and did pump his estimated market value closer to his career high of €50m, when he switched to BVB.

This season, Brandt has seen his worth drop from €40m to €35m. A lucrative buyer could likely still be found as Brandt possesses no shortage of talent. Last season, he netted 10 goals and registered 16 assists in 47 appearances across all competitions.

Most German football watchers considered it scandalous that Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann didn’t select Brandt for the summer 2024 German-hosted Euros. The player’s prospects of getting called up by Nagelsmann in the forthcoming international break remain essentially non-existent.

GGFN | Peter Weis