Brentford Open Schade Contract Talks as Arsenal and Liverpool Track Germany Winger

Brentford have moved to secure Kevin Schade on a new long-term contract after his impressive start to the Premier League season, with Arsenal and Liverpool among the clubs monitoring the German international. Elsewhere, Liverpool’s failed £50 million move for Ismaila Sarr has returned to the headlines, while the club has also reshaped its transfer hierarchy and Arsenal are working to protect another key asset.

Brentford have opened initial talks with Kevin Schade over an improved long-term contract as interest in the Germany international continues to grow among some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

The 24-year-old has started the 2026/27 season strongly, scoring three goals in Brentford’s opening five Premier League matches as the Bees entered the international break unbeaten and fourth in the table. Arsenal and Liverpool are understood to have been the clubs showing the strongest interest towards the end of the summer transfer window, while Chelsea and Tottenham have also monitored the winger.

For the moment, however, there is no indication that Brentford are negotiating a sale. Instead, the west London club has begun discussions aimed at extending Schade’s stay and improving his current terms. He has entered the final two years of the contract signed following his £20 million move from Freiburg in June 2023.

Schade has steadily developed into one of Brentford’s most valuable attacking players. He has recorded 25 goals and nine assists in 119 appearances for the club and has also established himself at international level with Germany. His combination of pace, direct running and ability to operate across the front line makes him an obvious target for clubs looking to strengthen their attacking depth.

Brentford’s position is strengthened by the fact that Schade is not yet entering the final year of his contract, meaning the club is under no immediate pressure to sell. A new agreement would further protect his transfer value and give Brentford greater control if significant offers arrive in 2027.

The situation is particularly interesting because Arsenal and Liverpool were reportedly the most active admirers as the summer window approached its conclusion. Neither club ultimately made a move that developed into negotiations with Brentford, but the player's current form is unlikely to reduce interest ahead of future transfer windows.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have also returned to the transfer headlines because of details surrounding their unsuccessful summer pursuit of Ismaila Sarr. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has said a reported £50 million late bid from Liverpool was never likely to be accepted. The offer came close to the end of the transfer window, and Palace ultimately retained the Senegal international.

There has also been an important change behind the scenes at Anfield. Liverpool have brought Julian Ward back as sporting director, replacing Richard Hughes, who departed for Al-Hilal after the summer window. Ward previously held the same position during the 2022/23 season and has spent the past two years working as technical director for Fenway Sports Group. He will now again play a central role in Liverpool’s squad planning and future recruitment strategy.

Ward returns at an important moment for Liverpool. During his previous period in the club’s recruitment structure, Liverpool completed deals involving players including Luis Díaz, Cody Gakpo, Alexis Mac Allister and Darwin Núñez. His familiarity with FSG’s wider scouting and talent-development structure provides continuity after changes elsewhere in the club’s football leadership.

Arsenal are also working on retaining core members of their squad rather than focusing exclusively on new signings. After Mikel Arteta agreed an improved contract expected to keep him at the club until 2030, the Guardian reported that Arsenal are also targeting a new agreement for Declan Rice as part of their longer-term squad strategy.

Taken together, the latest developments show that Premier League transfer planning has continued even after the summer window closed. Brentford’s priority is now to protect Schade before interest from larger clubs becomes more concrete, while Liverpool are reorganising the structure that will oversee their next recruitment cycle and Arsenal are working to secure key members of their title-winning core.

For Schade in particular, the coming months could prove decisive. A new Brentford contract would strengthen the club’s negotiating position considerably, but if the German maintains his current form, interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and other major Premier League sides is likely to remain an important storyline ahead of the next transfer windows.