If you ask any Arsenal fan who they’d have like to have seen waltz through the Emirates’ door on deadline day, I’m sure their answer would be ‘Julian Draxler’.
Whilst he’s not the striker that Arsenal desperately need, he is an inordinately talented young footballer who has now been linked with a move to London for quite some time.
His failure to turn up was a source of great disappointment for many. For some, it was a sign that the Gunners lacked ambition and weren’t ready to compete for the Premier League. For others, it was just Arsene Wenger missing out on yet another talented footballer.
The Schalke midfielder has plenty of qualities that would make him right at home within this Arsenal team. For a start, he’s a crafty individual, who’s at ease on the ball, has great technique and likes to take players on. He’s a direct, exciting young talent with a confidence in front of goal that eludes a lot of Arsenal’s brightest and best.
Not signing him during the January transfer window was hardly surprising (big deals usually happen in the summer), but it’s easy to see why people were disappointed. This begs the question, will Arsenal move back in for him during the summer transfer window?
According to Schalke coach Jens Keller, this is a definite possibility. In recent comments to the Press he suggested that Draxler’s future was now out of his control.
“I am delighted that we have him on board for the second half of the season but, because of his clause, he can leave when a club puts the money on the table.”
“That’s why I can’t plan with him, because it is just not in my or our hands. When you have to replace a player like Julian, you had better be prepared.”
The Mirror provide the quote and also note that the player’s £37m release clause will still be in effect this summer. If Arsenal are still interested, closing a deal won’t be too stressful. Sure, they’ll have to cough up a lot of money, but they wont have to deal with a lot of the minutiae that usually comes with transfers. I’m sure this will appeal to Wenger.
Let’s just hope that Arsenal fans finally get their wish and that Draxler wings his way to the Emirates soon enough.
What’s your take? Should the Gunners move in for Draxler again in the summer?
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