Brandt's father and agent have reportedly been spotted at Leeds United's training facility, a further sign of how advanced the club's interest has become.
Brandt, 30, left Borussia Dortmund at the end of June when his contract expired, bringing to a close a seven-year spell at the club he joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2019. Across 307 competitive appearances for Borussia Dortmund, the attacking midfielder scored 57 goals and provided 70 assists, numbers that underline the level of creative output Leeds would be adding to their squad on a free transfer.
The former Germany international has been linked with a host of clubs since becoming available, including Atletico Madrid, AS Roma, Aston Villa and Fenerbahce, reflecting the scale of interest in a player with proven quality at the top level of European football.
Leeds' willingness to enter direct negotiations, and the presence of Brandt's father and representative at their training ground, suggests the Yorkshire club now see themselves as genuine contenders to win the race for his signature.
Brandt has scored three goals in 48 caps for Germany but was not included in his country's World Cup squad this summer. His versatility, capable of playing as a number ten, on the wing or in a deeper central role, would give Leeds head coach Daniel Farke a wide range of tactical options, and his experience of Champions League football at Dortmund, including a run to the final, would add a level of continental pedigree that is rare among free transfers available to a newly-established Premier League club.
Leeds have leaned heavily on shrewd, low-cost recruitment as they build a squad capable of establishing itself back in the top flight, and landing a player of Brandt's calibre without paying a transfer fee would represent a significant coup regardless of the wages required to get a deal done.
With his father and agent already having visited the club's training base, momentum appears to be building behind Leeds' interest, even as competition from elsewhere in Europe means nothing is guaranteed until terms are formally agreed.