Borussia Dortmund CEO Michael Zorc Downplays Julian Brandt-to-Arsenal Rumors

Of the various transfer rumors circulating around the Bundesliga, one of those most frequently discussed involves Arsenal’s alleged interested in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt. Unlike many rumors that never rise above the tabloids, this one has been reported by more reputable sources like the Athletic and ESPN.

Photo by Alexandre Simoes/Borussia Dortmund via Getty Images

In a recent interview with Sky Germany (via Ruhr Nachrichten), BVB Sporting Director Michael Zorc downplayed Julian Brandt’s alleged move to Arsenal, claiming, “We can’t help the fact that rumors are constantly being spread that are simply not true.” This echoes the general trend that we’ve seen regarding this rumor over the past few weeks: while the rumors out of England and the U.S. have been plentiful, they’ve been mirrored by nothing but radio silence and instant dismissal in Germany.

In his interview, Michael Zorc also clarified Borussia Dortmund’s transfer strategy for the month of January. While he won’t rule anything out as of now, due to the COVID-induced economic situation, BVB don’t plan on making any major moves:

Basically, we would of course deal with each situation individually - even with an economic background that is not rosy due to the pandemic situation. But there is not even a hint of anything on the table.

With Dortmund’s revenues taking a substantial hit due to the COVID pandemic, it’s completely understandable that the club wouldn’t make any major moves this transfer window. BVB will have to wait at least until the summer to make any significant upgrades to the squad.