According
to the Guardian, Arsenal have had Dick Law, their chief transfer
negotiator, in Germany to explore the possibility of a January deal for
Schalke's Julian Draxler.
The London club are more likely to
get the attacking midfielder in the summer but Law's attendance for
talks with Schalke reflects the desire to do business before the winter
window closes on Friday night.
Draxler's
contract contains a £37m buy-out clause and Arsenal are not happy to pay
that, believing it is too high for a 20-year-old who is not yet the
finished article. But there is the feeling at Arsenal that there could
be room for manoeuvre with Schalke.
Draxler plays primarily as a
left-sided winger but he can also operate across the line behind the
striker. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has plenty of options in
the area, although he does have injury concerns, chiefly to Theo
Walcott, who is out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament
rupture.
Aaron Ramsey has suffered a setback in his
rehabilitation from a thigh strain; Wenger was also without Jack
Wilshere (ankle) and Tomas Rosicky (nose) for the 2-2 draw at
Southampton on Tuesday night, while the more defensive midfielder
Mathieu Flamini will begin a four-match ban for his red card late in the
game.
Draxler has been injured since the middle of December but
he hopes to be back in action next month. He has suffered from an ankle
problem.
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