Kevin Schade has started the season strongly for Brentford, with Keith Andrews keen for the forward to remain at the club amid reports of talks over a new deal.
Keith Andrews has made clear that he wants Kevin Schade to stay at Brentford amid reports the club are discussing a new contract with the Germany international.
The Bees are believed to be in talks over extending Schade’s deal beyond 2028, while reports towards the end of the summer also suggested the 24-year-old had attracted interest elsewhere.
Andrews is leaving the details of any negotiations to others at the club. His own position on Schade’s future was considerably more straightforward.
“Yeah, I am keen,” Andrews said when asked about keeping him in West London.
“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. It’s just very much I would like to keep Kevin at the club.”
Schade has started all three of Brentford’s Premier League games this season and opened his account with a clever finish in the 1-1 draw at Leeds United.
He scored eight league goals last season after getting 11 the year before, but Andrews believes his current performances represent another step forward from the player he was last season.
“I think everybody can see how well he’s started the season,” he said. “He’s been very, very focused. He’s come back in a really, really good place and he’s playing the best football certainly since I’ve been in charge.”
There has been plenty to his game aside from the goal at Elland Road. Schade remains an important player for the Bees in a multitude of ways going forward this season, from set-pieces to the pace he provides they attack into space. Andrews also praised the work he has been putting in off the ball.
“I just feel that there’s that confidence and rhythm in his game that those moments are going to be more frequent,” Andrews said.
“I just think he’s in such a good rhythm with his game and the confidence that he’s playing with, the understanding he has with his teammates.
“But the other facet of the game that he does really, really well for us, set-pieces, he’s huge. Transitional moments. His general work rate is something that I absolutely love. I very rarely need to remind Kevin of that. He does it very naturally.”
The Germany international was linked with Arsenal towards the end of the summer transfer window, although Andrews said he had not been aware of clubs making approaches or showing interest when asked directly about those reports.
“No, I didn’t,” he replied.
Schade initially arrived at Brentford on loan from Freiburg in January 2023 before making the move permanent later that year. Injuries may have interrupted his first full season at the Bees, but he has since become a regular part of their attack and built up considerably more Premier League experience.
Andrews also spoke about Schade’s tactical understanding and how seriously he takes his football, believing the forward can push beyond the level he has already reached if he can reproduce his strongest performances more consistently.
“I think he’s got a huge ceiling,” Andrews said.
“I think the only thing that’s been missing from Kev over a period of time is just consistently doing it. I think if you consistently do it, then you just go to the next level.
“And I think he’s bubbling at the moment really, really nicely.”
Schade now heads into Brentford’s trip to Bournemouth having started the season as a regular under Andrews and already added another Premier League goal to his record.
The details of any new contract remain outside Andrews’ remit, and he offered no update on how advanced the reported discussions might be. What he did make clear is that he sees Schade as an important part of his team and wants him to remain one.
