The Gunners are readying a lucrative offer to Schalke to sign their coveted attacking midfielder Julian Draxler, according to reports.
Draxler has been touted to make a summer switch away from the Veltins-Arena and Juventus and Arsenal are reportedly keen to give the 21-year an exit route. Arsenal have now appeared to be the leading candidates for the signature of the Schalke attacker.
The Gunners have only Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck as first team strikers, but with the former sometimes inconsistent and the latter susceptible to injury, Arsenal fans have been demanding for a top notch centre forward.
Metro claimed the Gunners are making a £21.1m offer to Schalke for the German ace after hijacking Juventus’ offer for Draxler. Few weeks back, Reports revealed the Turin-based side have agreed a fee to sign the 21-year old, but the move fell through, as both clubs failed to find an agreement regarding a transfer fee.
Metro gave an insight into the details of the deal and said Arsenal will pay Schalke an initial £17.6m with a further £3.5m to follow in bonuses. What the Gunners are offering is higher than that of Juventus, hence the Premier League club have blown the Serie A club out of the waters in the race to sign Draxler – who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Joachim Low’s Germany.
The 21-year old attacking midfielder is capable of playing as a lone striker, on either wings or in the hole behind the striker. Hence, Arsene Wenger could turn him into an out-and-out world beater in the striker role – something the Frenchman did to Robin van Persie.
He was limited to just 15 league appearances for Schalke last term due to injury. When fit, Draxler has always shown his ability and as per Squawka, he was the Bundesliga side top creator in the 2013/14 season, creating 59 chances. Draxler’s arrival at the Emirates will increase the number of German contingents at Arsenal, with Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker already on the north Londoners’ wage bill.
Arsenal lost their opening Premier League match of the season to West Ham United at the Emirates and manager Arsene Wenger has been put under enormous pressure to bolster his team. The Gunners’ boss will now be looking to win his next Premier League game against Crystal Palace.