Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool interested in Julian Draxler… but here’s why he’ll fit right in at Arsenal
Paris Saint-Germain star appears surplus to requirements in France and could be set for Premier League move
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WHEN a team spends £198million on one player, more than doubling the existing world record transfer fee, there will always be a fallout.
Paris Saint-Germain need to clear some space after Neymar’s arrival, even though Blaise Matuidi has joined Juventus, Serge Aurier is a Spurs and Manchester United transfer target and, surprisingly, Julian Draxler is apparently being allowed to leave the French club.
Football Whispers look at what happened to the German at PSG and if he would suit a move to the Premier League with Arsenal...
Usually when players are deemed surplus to requirements, it’s due to a lack of form, unhappiness, or just that you are no longer needed, but the Germany international doesn’t tick any of those boxes and if anyone was to be kept on this summer, the former Schalke and Wolfsburg man should be top of the list.
Due to the Brazilian’s arrival, and Financial Fair Play sanctions, the Ligue 1 side need to make some moves, but former Manchester United flop Ángel Di Maria looked to be higher up the departure board than the 23-year-old, who arrived in January.
It cost the Parisians £35.5million to take him from the Bundesliga eight months ago. Unhappy at Wolfsburg, he instantly looked happier and at home in Paris.
As far as PSG signings go, he started very well and settled into his new club like a duck to water. Getting off the mark in the Coupe de France win over Bastia, he scored in his league debut too.
He even impressed on the continent, scoring past Barcelona as Unai Emery’s team stunned Europe to win the first-leg of the Champions League clash 4-0.
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In 26 appearances, the German has scored 10 goals and added three assists. However, he has gone from playing on the left of the 4-3-3, to picking up five minutes off the bench in the 6-2 win over Toulouse on Sunday. All because of Neymar.
Reports from England suggest he could be available for Arsenal for as little as £32m. If picked up, he could be one of this summer’s best bargains, and Arsène Wenger should be clambering over the likes of Manchester United, Spurs and Liverpool to force a move to North London.
However, his agent Roger Wittman has already come out to condemn the story that originated from the French press.
"We are not interested in whether L'Equipe wrote something," Wittmann told Sport 1. "There has been no change, it is not a topic.
"If somebody writes 'I have this information from Nasser Al-Khelaifi [PSG chairman and CEO],' then I will consider it and call the president to speak about Julian's situation.
The Frenchman has spent most of the summer trying to lure Thomas Lemar from Monaco, but just two years older, and with more top flight experience, Draxler is a wonderful alternative.
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He would also cost less than half the price of what they were apparently willing to pay for the Monegasque wide-man.
Draxler would play in the same position. Able to start on the left of Arsenal’s 3-4-3 attack, but he can play more centrally too, either as an inside forward behind the striker, or in a No 10 role similar to the one taken up by Mesut Özil.
The German has the physical traits of a tough-tackling central midfielder, but with the quality, skill and trickery of a dazzling winger. He combines them all perfectly and it allows him to play anywhere up front – even, as he has shown for his country, as a striker.
"I expect to sell players first," Wenger said when asked about future moves. "We have too many players. It is not manageable. Many clubs are in this situation - that is why the transfer market is quiet.
"We have 33 players at the moment. We have too many players."
Yet, when someone like Draxler comes on the market, all budgeting and sense has to get pushed aside, only slightly. To miss out on the winger, at worst to a title rival, due to the fact you haven’t sold some players yet, would be a terrible business decision.
Still only 23 years old, he is the type of player who is perfectly made to not only adapt to the Premier League, but to excel. Give him two or three years and you could possibly triple what you have paid, especially in the current transfer climate.
If Alexis Sánchez or rumoured Chelsea target Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have to leave this summer, with Özil set to depart in 12 months, Draxler is ready-made to become their replacement and even take this team further than either of those three has managed so far.
With Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette, the addition of Draxler could fully usher in a new chapter at the Emirates this season.