ARSENAL are ready to pursue a bargain £17.5million deal to land Borussia Dortmund ace Julian Brandt, according to reports.
The Gunners are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer with Martin Odegaard heading back to Real Madrid.
Boss Mikel Arteta has been told by Zinedine Zidane that they will not entertain any offers of extending Odegaard’s stay in North London.
The Norwegian is seen as fundamental to Zidane’s plans and wants him to compete in midfield alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Arteta is being forced to look elsewhere and a deal for Brandt fits the bill.
Bild write how Dortmund are willing to accept just £17.5m for the 24-year-old following a difficult season in the Bundesliga.
Brandt has been on the edges of the first team with two goals in 16 league starts.
With Arsenal set to miss out on Champions League football unless they win the Europa League, finances will be tight for Arteta.
But Brandt’s reasonable price-tag and long-term potential make him an ideal transfer target.
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He already has 35 caps for his country and has featured over 220 times in the Bundesliga for both Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile Arsenal are braced to lose Dani Ceballos.
After two seasons from Los Blancos, the Spaniard wants to return to the Bernabeu and fight for his place in the first team.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
