Why Liverpool and Arsenal are tracking Kevin Schade, some of his stats are eye-opening
Brentford are reportedly attempting to tie Kevin Schade down to a new contract as they look to fend off interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.
The two Premier League giants reportedly held late summer interest in the 24-year-old but did not formulate an offer, with the Bees unwilling to sell.
But with the winger having entered the final two years of his contract, Brentford will be aware that they could come under significant pressure to sell next summer if a new agreement is not found.
Schade has started the new season in fine form, scoring three goals in his first five Premier League games after netting eight across all competitions in the last campaign.
Given Liverpool's density of options on the left, it would be expected that Arsenal are the likelier of the two teams to return with a move for the Germany international.
The Premier League champions tried and failed to sign several top left-sided forwards in the summer, with Christos Tzolis currently their only natural option in the position.
Kevin Schade's impressive start attracting attention
Schade first made his breakthrough with Freiburg in the Bundesliga, before he was spotted by Brentford and brought in on loan in 2023.
Despite failing to score a single Premier League goal in his first six months at the club, the Bees paid the £22million option to sign him permanently.
Schade's first full season was scuppered by injury, but his potential went on full show upon his return. The 2024-25 campaign saw the German score 12 goals across all competitions, providing three assists, too.
From the way he has started it, this season could well be his best yet. The winger is averaging 2.61 shots per game and scored three goals from just 1.52 expected goals (xG).
Even more impressively, Schade is averaging 6.83 duels won per game - a number only matched by 13 per cent of the Premier League.
The forward is also putting up 5.42 touches in the opposition box per game and a 100 per cent cross completion rate, although he has only attempted one.
What has Keith Andrews said about Schade?
Brentford will hope that Schade continues to see the appeal of the project at the Gtech Community Stadium.
The Bees have started the season superbly and will hope to end the season by achieving their goal of European qualification.
"I'm not entirely sure where those conversations are exactly but from my point of view, it’s not something I overly get involved in, the dealings of it," Keith Andrews said when asked about Schade's contract earlier this month.
"It’s just very much 'I would like to keep Kevin at the club’. I think everybody can see how well he has started the season.
"He’s been very, very focused, has come back in a really good place and I think he’s playing the best football, certainly since I’ve been in charge. He’s a really important part of the group."