Brentford have opened preliminary discussions with German forward Kevin Schade over a new long-term contract to protect his value in the wake of concrete interest from Arsenal, according to reports by TEAMtalk and FootballTransfers.
The 23-year-old, who joined the Bees permanently from SC Freiburg in 2023 for a reported £22 million, is currently bound to the Gtech Community Stadium until 2028. However, after Arsenal lodged a formal transfer enquiry during the summer window, Brentford have moved swiftly to reward the winger. The Bees reportedly maintained a firm stance during those summer approaches, indicating they would not entertain bids even if they eclipsed the club-record £70 million fee received when Bryan Mbeumo joined Manchester United.
Bees reinforce squad retention policy
The contract negotiations with Schade represent a continuation of Brentford's proactive squad retention policy under the leadership of head coach K. Andrews. Having recently lost star attackers Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United and Yoane Wissa to Newcastle United, the club has prioritised stability. This is evidenced by recent long-term contract extensions handed to Igor Thiago and Michael Kayode.
By securing Schade's long-term future, Brentford hope to ward off interest not only from Arsenal but also from Bayern Munich, who are reportedly monitoring his progress in the Premier League. There has been no official confirmation from Brentford regarding the progress of these discussions, but a new deal is expected to reflect his growing status within the squad.
Arsenal’s ongoing left-wing search
Arsenal's summer enquiry for Schade underlines manager Mikel Arteta's desire to reshape his left-wing options. Following the departures of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, the Gunners only managed to recruit Christos Tzolis to address the vacancy. According to reports, Arsenal’s recruitment staff retain a strong relationship with Brentford, which could keep the lines of communication open in future windows if contract talks stall.
