Brentford are working to sign Jannik Schuster from Red Bull Salzburg in a deal worth €20million (£17.2m).
The 19-year-old centre-back has established himself as a first-team regular at the Austrian club this season, making 26 appearances, and is a regular for Austria’s under-21 side.
Schuster spent time in joined Austrian second-division side FC Liefering — RB Salzburg’s feeder team — in 2023, where he made 39 appearances across three seasons before returning to RB Salzburg last summer.
The defender was a co-operation player which, under Austrian Football Association (OFB) rules, ensured he could play for Liefering and Salzburg’s youth-teams in the same season to maximise his development.
Schuster has featured four times in the Europa League this season including starting Salzburg’s 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa in January.
Joane Gadou Kouakou, left, and Schuster celebrating RB Salzburg scoring at Aston Villa in this season’s Europa League (Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Brentford are seventh in the Premier League table with three games remaining and are hoping to qualify for European competition for the first time in the club’s history.
A signing for Brentford’s future
Analysis by Jay Harris
Brentford are well-stocked with right-footed centre-backs which suggests Schuster is being signed with one eye on the future. Captain Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg have started 29 games this season.
They are both right-footed but Collins usually starts as the left-side centre-back. Norway international Kristoffer Ajer provides back-up to the pair. Ethan Pinnock is the only naturally left-footed centre-back but his gametime has significantly reduced this season. The 32-year-old Jamaica international has only made four appearances and has a year left on his contract.
Schuster has experience of playing as the left and right-sided centre-back which will appeal to Brentford and they will be conscious of growing their squad if they do compete in a European competition next season.
Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer were developed in Salzburg’s academy and Brentford will be hoping they are about to sign the next talented player to emerge.
Schuster has taken a different path to his brother, Jonas, and father, Werner, who are both professional ski-jumpers.
