Report: Brentford midfielder targeted for Bundesliga return | OneFootball

Frankfurt Interest Raises Questions Over Vitaly Janelt Future

Brentford find themselves at a crossroads with Vitaly Janelt as Eintracht Frankfurt begin exploratory talks over a potential move. The midfielder’s contract runs out at the end of this season, and while Keith Andrews is pushing hard to keep him, the situation is delicately poised. According to the TeamTalk report, “Eintracht Frankfurt are trying to sign him” and that alone signals how significant this next stretch could be for both the player and the club.

Contract Tension Around Key Squad Leader

Janelt has not been a regular starter this season, yet his influence remains sizable inside the squad. Andrews “wants him to stay because of his crucial leadership role” and that belief reflects how highly respected the 27 year old is behind the scenes. Even with reduced minutes, a player who has made 143 Premier League appearances for Brentford, the most in club history at this level, would be incredibly difficult to replace.

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The midfielder has returned from a heel injury but has largely been utilised from the bench. Despite that, sources quoted in the original report suggest that “an opportunity to move to the Bundesliga will exist for him” if contract talks continue to stall. Those close to Janelt say he is waiting to see “how his situation opens up” before making any firm decisions.

Frankfurt’s Position and Early Talks

Eintracht Frankfurt are described as “keen on the prospect” of landing Janelt and have already held initial discussions with Brentford. There “is no indication of a breakthrough” at this stage, but the Bundesliga side believe a winter transfer could become viable if the impasse continues.

One source close to negotiations stated, “Frankfurt are serious about signing him if he fancies a new challenge,” suggesting this is more than simple scouting interest. For a player who previously represented Germany at U21 level and spent time with Hamburg, Bochum and RB Leipzig, a return home carries a certain emotional pull.

Legacy and Value to Brentford

Brentford’s recruitment team struck gold when they secured Janelt from Bochum for a fee reported to be around £500,000 in 2020. He became a staple of Thomas Frank’s midfield during promotion, then evolved into a reliable Premier League performer across multiple seasons. Last term he made 32 league appearances as Brentford finished 10th, a landmark achievement in Frank’s final campaign.

With a stabilising presence, tactical discipline and strong dressing room influence, losing him for free would be a setback. Andrews is banking on his “strong connection to the club” to keep him in London, yet the lure of home and European ambitions could complicate matters.

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For Brentford supporters, this is the kind of story that sets pulses racing for all the wrong reasons. Janelt has been one of the constants during the club’s dramatic rise, and hearing that Frankfurt are already in talks prickles immediate anxiety. The quoted line that “initial conversations with Brentford have already begun” is the bit that hits hardest. That means this is real, it is active and it is moving.

Fans know he has not featured as heavily this season, but that does not make the situation easier to digest. Every promotion memory, every gritty defensive stand, every moment he has filled in as an emergency centre back flashes through the mind. When reports say Frankfurt are “serious about signing him”, it plants fear that the club could lose a cornerstone without a replacement lined up.

Supporters also worry about timing. A departure in the winter window could destabilise a squad still adjusting to Keith Andrews’ methods. Even if he stays until summer, losing such a leader on a free would sting. There is a nervous hope that loyalty wins out, but the sense of vulnerability lingers. In short, this report will feel like the first tremor of a story fans desperately want to fade away rather than grow.