Overview

• Aston Villa sporting director Monchi is closely tracking Julian Brandt’s status at Borussia Dortmund, according to Fichajes reports relayed by CaughtOffside.
• Villa are described as one of the strongest candidates for the 29-year-old’s signature, with BirminghamLive citing plans to explore talks ahead of January.
• Dortmund are expected to try to renew Brandt’s deal, but reporting suggests they could consider a nominal January sale rather than risk losing him for free in 2026.
• Under transfer rules, a player entering the final six months can sign a pre-contract with foreign clubs, making January 2026 pivotal for any free-transfer agreement.
• Brandt is a versatile German international attacking midfielder with significant Bundesliga output and caps, and he is reportedly open to a Premier League move.