@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Doesn't look worth 40 mill

Good player but not an electric one

I like Draxler a lot but I agree. I really think we should pursue El Shaarawy in the summer instead. Forget about Walcott and Podolski and every other flawed wide forward we have in the squad. Just go all in for the guy who combines electric pace with a strong finish and sublime technique. Get him now while Milan are down in the dirt and need money to rebuild. Then put Jack on the other flank and you've got your extra playmaker to help out with possession.

I wouldnt worry about the cost too much. If old cheapskate Wenger is willing to pay it, then the kid is worth it.

Klaus wrote:

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Doesn't look worth 40 mill

Good player but not an electric one

I like Draxler a lot but I agree. I really think we should pursue El Shaarawy in the summer instead. Forget about Walcott and Podolski and every other flawed wide forward we have in the squad. Just go all in for the guy who combines electric pace with a strong finish and sublime technique. Get him now while Milan are down in the dirt and need money to rebuild. Then put Jack on the other flank and you've got your extra playmaker to help out with possession.

Yep. The squad is crying out for mad pace

Walcott is currently better than El Shaarawy for me. Significantly in fact. SES has a lot more ability but he's very raw. Wenger could turn him into a goal machine though, so I'd love him.

SES?

Stephan El Shaarawy

El Shaarawy would probably cost a lot less than Draxler too, and leave room in the budget for Diego Costa.

Balo + SES, milan raid.

“El Shaarawy is a very mobile, very technical young player. His philosophy fits perfectly with mine,” Wenger told Eurosport.

"El Shaarawy is top notch" - Matt Bubb

We could probably get Draxler for less than his release clause. Schalke seem to be preparing for his departure. 30m at most is fair.

I think Draxler's a better overall prospect but El Shaarawy moves off the ball more like a forward and might suit us better as a consequence. Although I do like that Draxler is competent (if not quite Max Meyer) as a creative player and could play our passing game. Scared of SES' injury record too, you know injury issues only get worse at Arsenal.

Can Chamberlain play LW? I'd probably rather us buy an Arteta understudy and a CB/RB to fill out the squad (on top of our ST) than spend a ton on another young attacking midfielder. I like Draxler a lot though, sky's the limit with him. If we get a good price on him then no complaints.

Draxler really doesn't add much at all in the build up, but he can make the difference when it counts. We could use a player like that. Would need to balance that with a midfielder on the right side I think. Wilshere/Cazorla/Chamberlain.

[video=vimeo]

nice combo on the goal. thought the guy overhit the throughball but keeper was late coming out, and a nice finish. he's not a 40m player, though.

kamikaze wrote:

nice combo on the goal. thought the guy overhit the throughball but keeper was late coming out, and a nice finish. he's not a 40m player, though.

His potential might be worth 40m.

Given that Matic costs 35m... 40m is fair for Draxler. The market is so fucked nothing seems reasonable actually

I heard Chelsea are paying like €20m for Matic.

the market is not fkd. there is so much more money in football now than there ever has been. these new fees are being paid in the era of financial fairplay. if anything, the market is less crazy than it has been in the past when people could just pour money in.

that said it is fair to suggest that football teams are living on the promise of some big payday. whether that is an end to collective bargaining, further gouging fans, more tours, more sponsorships, or the Super League, there is an expectation that revenues will rise substantially going forward.

Matic is going for £16m, nowhere near 35m

Rayman wrote:

Matic is going for £16m, nowhere near 35m

My bad, got confused by Rodrigo's fee.

Anyway, Matic is going for £22m + add ons.

German paper Bild today: Are Schalke preparing for Draxler's Departure?
SportDirector Heldt: -We hope he stays, but we can't influence

Basically, he is free to leave if we bid.

If we're planning to go for him in the summer then we may as well buy him now. If nothing else, it will free up Podolski to play up top again.

Draxler seems like he might be a brilliant long term investment if he's as talented as many are saying, but would he have any real impact on the team for the next 5 months?

He might turn into a goalscorer, but from his stats, he certainly isn't one now. Wouldn't we still need to bring in a striker?

Although some have said they think Wenger would want to turn Draxler into a striker long term.

Rosicky is 33 this year, Arteta is 32, Flamini is 30, Cazorla is 30. Eventually these guys will have to be phased out or sold/released. Rosicky looks decent at his age but his injuries might come up at any time plus he is quite mobile at 33. Once he loses that though he won't have a place here. Arteta is one I'd keep around for the long term because he's completely lost his pace but he still has the intelligence to play. I'd keep him as a regular till 2015 then as an exp sub and get in Cabaye then who'd be the perfect replacement IMO. Flamini's main asset is his harrying and he needs to run around a lot to make up for his lack of technical skills. He has 2 years max here. Cazorla is the one we need to be a bit cuthroat with. He's going to turn 30 this year and if he doesn't start picking up his form we should still be able to get a very good fee probably a profit on the 14m euro fee in the summer.

YOOLIAN DRAXLER

We need to strengthen our left wing options, our attack is completely weighted towards the centre and right.
I'd be all for pouncing on this Draxler opportunity if it's available in January

Draxler in January

Then sell Cazorla and Podolski in the summer, sign Pogba and a striker.

Draxler and Benzema and I'm a very happy man.

Oops thought this was the wishlist.

Is he worth 45mill Euros? I know it is due to lower buyout clauses but in recent years Gotze & Hazard have gone for less

Not sure if he's worth 45m Euros but he's not going to give performances/numbers you'd expect from a 45m Euro footballer in the first year or two IMO.

Schalke Manager Horst Heldt on Draxler: "We continue to hope that Julian remains. But there are rules that we can not influence."

JazzG wrote:

Is he worth 45mill Euros? I know it is due to lower buyout clauses but in recent years Gotze & Hazard have gone for less

Gotze went for a snip because he had a release clause agreed on his deal a few years back prior to the market inflation which occurred last summer. Hazard was from Ligue 1 and even then the amount was considered a lot. Factor in the extras due to which even City backed off and it comes close to or exceeds what we pay for Ozil in terms of the entire financial package. With Draxler you're paying for currently one of the few attainable super talents who has a lot of match experience too. A young player who will give performances from the get-go like Oscar, Mata and Hazard.

May as well order your shirts now.

I really doubt we'll sign him.

Captain wrote:

May as well order your shirts now.

Yep, I reckon it's near a done deal. All that needs to be decided is whether he joins now or in summer.

Draxler #31. He'll take the #7 once Rosicky fucks off.

Volante wrote:

Captain wrote:

May as well order your shirts now.

Yep, I reckon it's near a done deal. All that needs to be decided is whether he joins now or in summer.

Draxler #31. He'll take the #7 once Rosicky fucks off.

:hmm: