2 weeks ago
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Bees transfer target
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Brentford seem intent on enjoying a dramatic end to their summer transfer window, with reports in Germany suggesting that the Bees could be prepared to make a major signing ahead of the window slamming shut on Monday. According to German tabloid Bild, the Premier League club have made an offer to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Maximilian Beier. The publication states that the offer stands at an initial fee of just under €64 million, with additional add-ons taking the full fee to as high as €69.5m.
If the numbers are to be believed and Dortmund accept such an offer, Beier would make the move to Brentford as the club’s record transfer fee, far surpassing the €42.8m the club paid for Bournemouth forward Dango Ouattara just a few months ago. It would also take the English club’s spending in this window to a remarkable sum of €168.2m. However, that fee will be largely offset by the €98.7m Brentford have made in player sales this summer.
Considering Dortmund’s reputation for selling young players for huge fees, it’ll come as no surprise that Beier’s reported fee would rank only fourth in the Bundesliga club’s biggest sales of all time. With add-ons included, it would surpass the €64m Chelsea paid for Christian Pulisic in 2019 but come short of the €85m Manchester United paid for Jadon Sancho. However, irrespective of how Beier’s fee compares to previous Dortmund stars, it’s still a considerable sum of money for Brentford’s to spend. So how good is the German international and would he be a smart signing for Brentford?
How good is Maximilian Beier?
At 22 years of age, Beier is still a very young prospect but his age shouldn’t hide the fact that he is already a seasoned goalscorer in German football. After making his breakthrough on loan at second-tier side Hannover in the 21/22 season, Beier then returned to Hoffenheim and lit the Bundesliga alight with 16 goals and three assists in 33 league games. That single season led to serious interest from Germany’s biggest clubs, leading to Dortmund signing the young forward for €28.5m the previous season.
Due to the immense array of attacking talent in Dortmund’s squad, Beier has had to be patient at the Westfalenstadion but certainly came into his own in the second half of last season when new head coach Niko Kovac prioritised the young German international over Jamie Gittens on the left wing. Beier repaid the faith shown in him with five goals and four assists in 15 league games, before an ankle injury brought his season to a premature end four games before the end of the league campaign.
When coupled with performances in other competitions, Beier’s record for Dortmund last season stood at 10 goals and six assists in 46 games. Which worked out at a pretty impressive 0.59 goals and assists per 90 minutes of football. Not bad for a player that was often tasked with playing on the wing or even at wing-back at times last season.
Indeed, it will be Beier’s enthusiasm to play across the attacking line and even in selfless defensive roles that has clearly led to Brentford taking an interest in the young talent. While the German international is a clear scorer and creator of goals, he can also be used in a number of different systems and formations. And that may just make him worth the sizable sum that the Premier League side are reportedly prepared to pay for his services.
