Although they are hopeful of keeping him, German side Schalke 04 accept that their star man, Julian Draxler, may leave the club in the summer, with Arsenal ready to swoop.
Draxler, who is one of the rising stars of German football, and has been followed by a whole host of European big guns for the past couple of years.
Arsenal are perennially linked with a move for the 20-year-old, and now Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt has admitted that they may not be able to hang onto him past the summer.
“We still hope that Julian stays, but there are elements we can’t influence,” Heldt told Bild (via ESPN)
Chelsea had also been strongly linked with a move for the German, as we reported last month, but former Norway striker Jan Aage Fjortoft has put his weight behind Arsenal in the race for the youngster,
Arsenal still favourite to get Draxler (Clause: summers-45 mill euro) – Impressed by Arsenal training ground – German players #afc crucial
— Jan Aage Fjortoft (@JanAageFjortoft) January 5, 2014
Fjortoft was key in breaking the Ozil-Arsenal transfer last summer, and the player-turned-pundit claims that Draxler was impressed during a recent visit to the Arsenal training complex in London.
A versatile attacker, able to play anywhere across the forward line, Draxler is known for his dribbling skills, passing, and range of shooting. He has won 10 caps so far for the German national side, and is tipped to make it onto the plane for the World Cup Finals in Brazil this summer.
While the reported €45m price-tag may well make Arsene Wenger’s eyes water, Draxler has the potential to become one of the very best midfielders in the world, and if he does indeed fancy a move to North London, Wenger should break the bank to secure him.
What do you think? Will Draxler make a move to Arsenal in the summer? Let me know in the comments below…
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