According to the Daily Mail, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton are reportedly in the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen starlet Julian Brandt. Both the Premier League clubs sent over scouts to evaluate him in the German outfit’s 1-1 stalemate to Koln last Wednesday and they returned with all smiles.
The highly-rated winger has been in electrifying form this season – finding the back of the net twice and contributing 6 assists in a dozen Bundesliga matches. The latter stats highlights his impressive decision making despite his tender age. Brandt is predominantly employed on the left side of the flank yet has the ability to run the show across the attacking trident.
The German international combines pace, trickery and close control of the ball to great effect, attributes that fits Mauricio Pochettino’s gameplan down to the ground. With Erik Lamela on the treatment table and summer signings failing to step up, goals have dried up for the north London club and in a bid to finish in the top four, it makes sense why the Argentinean is keen to snap up the youngster. In addition, the former Southampton boss did admit back in the summer that his squad lacks pace in the flanks.
Brandt is not only a familiar name for the scouts as the German winger was a constant thorn for the Lilywhites’ defence when both teams squared off this season in the Champions League.
At the age of 20, misgivings do tag along if he is only a one-season wonder. Last term, he bagged 9 goals and 2 assists out of 29 league matches. Being considered as one of his country’s brightest prospects, Brandt has already capped four appearances to his name. His impressive CV also includes an Olympic 2016 silver medal.
After coming through the youth ranks at Wolfsburg, the winger was tracked by a host of clubs, especially Bayern Munich yet placing importance on growth, he opted for a move to BayArena in January 2014. Something to be cherished as young players these days are tempted to be at the other end of the scale. However, reports also emerge that Bayern are once again looking to pounce when opportunity permits.
Everton, on the other hand, are struggling to keep their attack on tune over the flanks due to a lengthy injury to Yannick Bolasie and Julian Brandt has darted into Ronald Koeman’s good books too.
One thing is for sure, being a player in demand, his current club will never let him go for cheap. If it all comes down to a bidding war, it would be a close call between the teams yet it could turn into a different story if other money-swirling clubs join the bandwagon.
Mauricio Pochettino has a considerable amount of young talents at his disposal but if he manages to pry the German speedster over, it would offer another dimension to his attacking play.
