Arsenal’s hopes of landing Julian Brandt on a free transfer have been plunged into chaos, with Newcastle United now preparing an aggressive move to hijack the deal and deliver a crushing blow to Gunners sporting director Andrea Berta.
Just as Berta thought he had cleared the runway for the Borussia Dortmund star’s arrival at the Emirates this summer, a German source has revealed that Newcastle are planning to make their own offer to convince the 29-year-old to head to St. James’ Park instead. And they are not alone.
Berta’s masterplan under threat
On March 11, TEAMtalk’s transfer insider Graeme Bailey reported that Arsenal were keen on a summer 2026 deal for Brandt, who will walk away from Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. Berta had been planning to secure the Germany international’s signature on a free agent basis, with the 29-year-old’s versatility seen as a major asset.
Brandt has scored 57 goals and provided 69 assists in 303 appearances across all competitions for Dortmund. His ability to operate as an attacking midfielder or on the left wing makes him hugely appealing to Mikel Arteta’s side, where he could add creativity and experience to a title-chasing squad.
But those plans are now under serious threat.
Newcastle, Villa join the chase
According to Fussball Daten, Arsenal and Aston Villa “are preparing the most aggressive offers for Brandt’s creativity” – but Newcastle have now emerged as a genuine rival. The report suggests the Magpies are ready to make their own proposal to the German playmaker, potentially derailing Berta’s carefully laid plans.
The interest does not stop there. Serie A giants Inter Milan are also monitoring the situation, while La Liga powerhouses Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are keen on his signature. Even Major League Soccer side FC Cincinnati have been credited with an interest in the Bundesliga star.
A decision yet to be made
For all the noise, Brandt himself remains calm and non-committal. Speaking to Sky Germany earlier this month, the 29-year-old offered little clarity on his next destination.
“Let yourself be surprised,” Brandt said. “There are many ideas, not every idea is good, but there are many ideas. In principle, I’m not ruling anything out. But there are things I prefer, and there are things I currently find harder to imagine. As I said: there are one or two ideas, but everything in due course.”
He added: “You don’t have to rush things. We are slowly approaching the end of the season now, but we still have important games ahead of us. It would also not be fair to the club to suddenly start holding talks everywhere. You have to finish things properly, and then you have enough time to think about how things will continue. I am not worried about that at all.”
Advantage Arsenal? Not so fast
On paper, Arsenal still hold significant appeal. The Gunners could yet win the Premier League and the Champions League this season, offering Brandt the chance to join a club at the very pinnacle of European football.
Newcastle, by contrast, are enduring a poor campaign and will not play in European competition during the 2026/27 season. That lack of continental football could be a major deterrent for a player of Brandt’s calibre, who is at the peak of his powers at 29.
But the Magpies’ financial muscle and project under Eddie Howe cannot be underestimated. If Newcastle prepare an “aggressive offer” – both in terms of wages and sporting guarantees – they could yet turn Brandt’s head.
What this means for Berta
For Andrea Berta, this is more than a minor setback. The Arsenal sporting director has made Brandt a key target for the summer window, viewing the free transfer as a shrewd piece of business that would strengthen Arteta’s attacking options without depleting the transfer budget.
If Newcastle or Aston Villa succeed in luring Brandt away, Berta will be forced back to the drawing board – and with rivals circling, the German’s camp will have no shortage of suitors to choose from.
One thing is certain: Brandt’s next move is far from decided. And with the season reaching its climax, the race for his signature is only just beginning.