Arsenal Transfer News: Will Arsene Wenger look to Julian Draxler from Paris Saint-Germain?

Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger (R).
Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger (R).Source: AFP
Staff writers, AFP from Fox Sports

ONE of the Rumour Mill’s longest running links is back on the agenda.

With Julian Draxlerreportedly surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain following Neymar’s arrival, Arsenal are considering another flirtation to try finally land the German, who would cost £32m, reports The Times.

Although Mundo Deportivo hints he has been shopped by his management to Barcelona, Arsenal have been long term admirers of the German midfielder, now 23, whose situation is also being monitored by Borussia Dortmund, who fear losing Ousmane Dembele.

But, as ever in the world of transfer speculation, there are conflicting reports over whether the former Schalke and Wolfsburg player is on the PSG chopping block.

ESPN FC suggests that the German remains a key part of Unai Emery’s plans, and the gossip forced his manager, Roger Witmann, to blast L’Equipe’s initial report.

“We are not interested in whether L’Equipe wrote something,” Wittmann said. “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.

“Once again, though, this is not the case. So, everything has been said.”

Julian Draxler.Source: AFP

Meanwhile, after selling Gabriel Paulista, Arsenal have rejected Inter Milan’s overtures for Shkodran Mustafi.

Sky Italia report that the Italians wanted the German on loan, but now may return with a permanent bid.

But Lucas Perez’s horror stay in London is all but over, with The Mirror tipping a loan move to Deportivo La Coruna, with a fixed agreement of a £10million move next summer. The Gunners had knocked back Newcastle United’s overtures, and Deportivo’s attempt just to loan the striker this season, with nothing permanent thereafter.

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, centre, and Shkodran Mustafi.Source: AP

One signing that has already looked fruitful for Wenger is Sead Kolasinac, who the Frenchman thinks could be the most powerful player he’s ever bought.

“Maybe he is the strongest (I have worked with),” he said.

“He is naturally strong. He uses quite well the strength of his body without violence and when he intervenes it doesn’t look to be a foul, he just uses his body strength. It is an important quality to help adapt to the Premier League.

“He has the capacity to repeat runs, and we noticed when we watched him play that he is quite dangerous in the final third.

“He already has some assists since he came here, so overall maybe he is not a glamorous dribbler but the quality of his runs are very efficient. The determined attitude gets to the crowd and that gives something to the team, you can see that with him and when he intervenes he provokes happiness.

Arsenal's German-born Bosnian defender Sead Kolasinac.Source: AFP

“There is something there and you feel that from the crowd.

“We conceded too many goals last year but I did not have the feeling [it was] especially because we were bullied.

“When we built the stadium we had to sell players, and we played with very young players. And at 18, 19, when we played Fabregas or Nasri they were very young and did not have the experience to deal with that so much.

“We had less-physical players on top of that maybe — but most of the time it was because we had a very young team.”

Arsenal head to Stoke City this weekend aiming to register a second victory of the season and divert attention away from continuing questions about the future of Alexis Sanchez.

Arsene Wenger’s side kicked off the Premier League campaign in exciting, if not entirely convincing, fashion against Leicester City, coming from behind to register a 4-3 victory thanks to a late Olivier Giroud winner.

Sanchez, currently sidelined by an abdominal injury but pictured back in training, is out of contract at the end of the season, but despite interest in him from a number of clubs, Wenger would rather lose him for nothing next year than sell him now.

“I have regular conversations with the players where I tell them where I stand and they know what I want and where I stand on that front,” said Wenger on Wednesday.

A young fan wears an Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal maskSource: Getty Images

“At the moment he [Sanchez] is a player who goes into the final year of his contract and prepares for the season. We have not made any progress on the other front.

“That [leaving for free] is a consequence of what I say, yes, unfortunately. But we have to make a choice between efficiency on the field and financial interest and most of the time if you can find a good compromise, it’s better.”

The win over Leicester was the kind of performance that suggested the inconsistencies that dogged Arsenal last term have not gone away.

Arsene Wenger.Source: Getty Images

Wenger will hope a repeat of last season’s victory at the bet365 stadium will make a more compelling case for his side to be considered strong title contenders.

But their status among the leading clubs will not be confirmed until the transfer window has passed, with Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain among the players who are also out of contract at the end of the season.

And as far as Wenger is concerned, Sanchez, Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain will stay, even if that means they will be allowed to leave for free at the end of the campaign.

For now, Wenger’s focus remains on the trip to Stoke, where Arsenal won for the first time in seven attempts last May.

“We had a convincing win there and that should inspire us,” said the Frenchman. “I don’t believe in bogey teams too much. We had a good performance last season and we have to focus on that, just to deal with the same performance.

“Stoke have a good record at home against many teams and I’m convinced that if we play our game, we have a good chance of winning.”