Volante wrote:

Dein Sky Sport ‏@DeinSkySport 31m
.@Rune4 bei #SkySL: "Trainer von #Draxler heißt ab Sommer Arsene Wenger!" #skybuli #S04

Direct translation here

Draxler will be the trainer of Arsene Wenger and get him abs for the summer.

If nothing else, it'll be a nice little psychological boost for the side.

He could definitely develop into a similar striker as RvP. They're almost uncanny.

ugh he's such a sick player, technique, close control, passing and finishing.

kamikaze wrote:

ugh he's such a sick player, technique, close control, passing and finishing.

:gah:

Even though he wants to play number 10, I imagine that could change if Wenger feels he can be a new RvP minus the injuries.

and minus the little boy inside of him

Volante wrote:

Draxler better not flop.

I think any worry about his transfer is that we have bigger needs in the squad - striker, holding mid, backup CB/RB. And perhaps that he won't be an immediate contributor to a team that needs to be looking to win now. But he's clearly going to become an excellent player.

Meh, I had hoped we'd get him in January in order for him to gain a little bit experience this season. He wouldn't have helped us much this season anyway, that's why I was initially against signing him in January, but if we really sign him for next summer, we've passed an opportunity to get him into a title challenge and five months of Premier League football.

He's first choice at schalke isn't he? He's fine where he is. Get in a proper pre season with the team and have a go next season.

If anyone has a problem with a post, PM a mod about it. Don't put it in the thread.

YounGunner, I think we all know what van Peraie's skills look like. No need to post a video of them.

Let's move on now.

What's the chances of us actually signing him? 50-50?

Where's Scorpion when you need him?

If we pay what Schalke want we can sign him whenever we want.

Raphael Honigstein just confirmed on BT Sport that negotiations are ongoing between Arsenal and Schalke for Julian Draxler.

I remember when he was gushing over Ramsey and Wilshere in a Beeb interview ahead of the England friendly, then swapped shirts with Jack at the final whistle. He certainly fancies us.

Honigstein traded shirts with Jack?

Horst Heldt told Sky before the game that there are no talks re Julian Draxler and there have been no offers either.

“I can’t rule out that we’ll sign Cristiano Ronaldo.” (Horst Heldt when asked if he can rule out a Julian Draxler transfer.)

Bizarre. Both clubs maintain nothing is going on but everyone in the media seems adamant that something is happening.

Arsenal always say nothing is happening.

I doubt we're really in for Draxler. This whole thing reeks of an agent who's trying to ship a player through the papers. This would explain why everyone's reporting the same story while the clubs deny that they're even negotiating. Also explains why the biggest German football outlets who have good sources inside Schalke aren't carrying the story.

There was one source early on in Germany who said that we had been in for Draxler once, last summer, but haven't been in contact with Schalke since. Seems logical to me. The price is wrong, the player is positionally wrong, and the idea that he could be converted into a striker is a bit outlandish if you've seen him play. Not saying it can't be done but his main point is his creativity, not his movement in front of goal. It's the kind of gamble you might try with a player who arrives on the cheap, not someone you have to pay £37 million for. The idea seems to be pure conjecture stemming from the fact that we need to upgrade our strikers at some point within the next six months.

qs! wrote:

Arsenal always say nothing is happening.

Don't give anything away sure, but you always get a sense of whether or not we're in for someone. With the Drax, I don't get the feeling we are. On the other hand, it seems a bit more than just agent talk, it's so widespread. Most are adamant something is in the works even after the denials.

One explanation might be that we're trying to do a deal which will be completed in the summer, which would explain why both clubs are so determined to keep it quiet.

No smoke without fire Klausie.

Perhaps not. 'The fire' could well be the agent making up stories though. It would be considered a legitimate source for most people who either aren't schooled in (ITKs) or don't care about proper journalism (tabloid journalists in general). When both clubs outright deny that any contact has been made then I'm inclined to believe them.

Wenger never denied we were interested in signing Draxler, did he? Let's not forget that Wenger also said there was nothing in rumors about Arteta just days before we signed him.

Meh, we'll find out in just 5 days.

He didn't deny interest, he just denied that we've been trying to sign Draxler this window. Now Heldt (who's general manager at Schalke) says the same thing.

Honigstein also told ESPN today that negotiations are taking place. Definitely something there.

Alfonso wrote:

Where's Scorpion when you need him?

😆

Now that is a blast from the past!

Lukas Podolski will move to Schalke as part of the deal for Julian Draxler [Sky Sports reporter Maik Nöcker]

That would make some sense since Wenger doesn't seem to trust Podolski very much.

This seems like it's going to happen in the summer and if we're including Poldi in the deal then there should be enough money and room in the squad for a top CF.

False alarm, someone translated the German incorrectly. Fucking twitter.

I still think we will sell one of our first teamers if this happens, and I think Podolski is the most likely to go. I disagree with it vehemently though since I think he is a terrific player and seems a brilliant character.

Well Wenger's often talked about Wilshere and Chamberlain as central midfielders. If he sees Jack slowly taking over the holding role next year (and Chambo filling in wherever like Jack this year), then adding Draxler to Cazorla/Podolski/Walcott/Gnabry is reasonable, especially with the former two of those nearing 30.