Leeds United facing tough battle for ex-Dortmund star's signature

Leeds United are set to enter the offseason having secured survival in the Premier League with a resounding 47-point tally to their names, with top-flight qualification not always being guaranteed at Elland Road. Englishman Dominic Calvert-Lewin found himself in a rare vein of form throughout the campaign, slotting 14 shots into the back of the net during the domestic season, while the American maestro Brendan Aaronson would finish the season with nine goal involvements.

While it sounds like the Peacocks have a fairly functional offensive system on their hands, it appears that they're only planning to improve it over the course of the next few months in the transfer market. This interest in improving their attacking department has led them to look all around Europe's top leagues, including the German Bundesliga, which for the better part of seven years has housed their next target: Julian Brandt.

Leeds, keen on acquiring the German, might see some stiff competition in the race

According to a recent report by TEAMtalk's Fraser Fletcher, the English outfit is looking to bring Brandt to Elland Road in the offseason, but is expected to face some difficulty in making the move happen due to the interest elsewhere.

"Leeds have now joined the race to sign the in-demand playmaker and having reached out to his representatives over the player’s feelings with regards a prospective move to Elland Road this summer..." writes Fletcher. "Leeds have their work cut out to seal a deal."

The Peacocks' competition is mainly coming from Serie A outfit Roma, who see Brandt as a replacement for their departing striker, as well as La Liga's Atletico Madrid, with the latter of the two being appealing for both on and off-pitch reasons, according to Fletcher.

"Brandt is keen on a La Liga move, and his girlfriend’s residence in Spain adds further appeal," notes Fletcher. "AS Roma have also made direct contact and received positive feedback over a possible move. With Paulo Dybala potentially departing, the Giallorossi see Brandt as a key reinforcement for their Champions League campaign..."

It's worth pointing out that as Leeds United, given their position in the Premier League table, aren't able to provide the German with something that he might clearly desire at this point in his career: Champions League football. This is something that both Roma and Atletico Madrid are able to give to Brandt if he makes the move, as well as some of the other English sides who are interested in him, with Aston Villa being among the ranks, per TEAMtalk's report.

All of this transfer talk comes after Brandt's contract with Borussia Dortmund has come to an end, closing a seven-year chapter at the Signal Iduna Park, a team and place that he has made 307 appearances for, netting 57 goals and 67 assists. Given that this experience is in one of Europe's bigger leagues, as well as much of this experience coming on the continental stage, Brandt would certainly offer more than great attacking sense to Leeds if a move were to go through.

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