We’ve said it many times over the years, but midfielders are to football what middle relievers are to baseball or linemen are to American football: an invaluable commodity you can never overstock. And whether it was due to injuries, the accumulated fatigue from playing midweek matches all season long, or simply a lack of quality, Roma’s performances have waxed and waned with the fortunes of her midfield.
And once the declining production from the midfield was combined with injuries up front, well,
you get what we’ve seen for most of the past six weeks: languid and lousy football. Fortunately, Roma has enough talent in attack and a few promising pieces in the midfield to make you believe better days are ahead. But they can always use more help in the midfield, particularly an attacking midfielder with poise, experience, and atrack record of success.
In that light, one of the early names on the summer transfer radar, Dortmund midfielder Julian Brandt, makes a lot of sense. Brandt, 29, has been a Bundesliga lifer, spending his entire 13-year career in the German top flight, including a productive seven-year stretch with BVB. Over the past three seasons alone, two of which he spent playing alongside Roma striker Donyell Malen, Brandt has scored 26 goals and provided 33 assists in all competitions.
And with the German international’s contract expiring in June, a reunion may be in the cards. According to multiple sources in Italy, including the Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma may attempt to reunite the two players by signing Brandt on a free transfer this summer.
Roma will face stiff competition for Brandt, but given his experience, playing profile, and affordability, he may be the ideal opening move for the Giallorossi this summer.
