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Reports: Arsenal Offer €43m Deal For Wenger’s ‘Top Target’

By mac14 on January 22, 2014

Arsenal have made their move for long-term target Julian Draxler after offering Schalke a package worth a total of €43m (£35m), according to reports today.

The German sensation has been a name strongly linked with a move to the Emirates over the past 12 months with boss Arsene Wenger admitting on more than one occasion that he’s a huge fan.

A deal was meant to have been close last summer before we signed Mesut Ozil, but Wenger retained his interest and supposedly wanted to bring the 20-year-old to north London at the end of the season.

It seems we’ve brought forward those plans after learning that Theo Walcott would miss the rest of the season with many newspapers claiming Wenger has made the attacking midfielder his ‘No.1’ January transfer target.

The Sun are one of several media outlets who are claiming that we’ve now made our first official move by offering Schalke €25m (around £20m) in cash plus Lukas Podolski – who’s valued by the club at €18m (around £15m) – making the total deal worth approximately €43m (£35m).

On the face of it these seems like an excellent deal for all parties. We get one of the best talents in Europe, pay Schalke a significant transfer fee, plus we give them a ready-made replacement who’s a German international with over 100 caps.

However, it doesn’t seem Schalke agree as the newspapers are claiming that the Bundesliga outfit have turned down the offer and are demanding the full €45m (£37m) that would trigger the attackers release clause.

Using Podolski as bait was an interesting move by Wenger and a strange one when you consider our current lack of options up front. I’m actually a big fan of the forward’s and think he’s a vastly under-rated member of the squad. When you consider that he’s scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists in just 35 appearances, he’s certainly proved good value for the £11m we paid Koln 18 months ago.

He’s also a very popular guy around the dressing room. The big problem would be that he would slip further down the pecking order if we do manage to sign Draxler, so it’s perhaps understandable that the boss tried to include him in the deal.

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It remains to be seen whether we’ll go back in with another bid, but I’m keeping everything crossed that we do and we can persuade Schalke to sell as he’d be a sensational signing and one that could just bring us the title.

44 Comments

wardy

January 22, 2014 at 8:03 pm

It wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that Lukas gets to a more central role leaving Draxler the 2/3 years Wenger will need to convert him into a striker. By which point Lukas will be 32
I for one don’t want to see Lukas leave anytime soon. Regardless of new buys.
Long live the Prince.
mathew

January 22, 2014 at 8:50 pm

Draxler in,one sstriker in too at list.
segun

January 22, 2014 at 8:50 pm

Podolski going nowhere,I don’t believe any rumour because I know arsenal is signing no one this January. Podolski is the best finisher in front of goal than any current player in Arsenal.
De'young

January 22, 2014 at 9:09 pm

I think wenger is a little bit serious with the signing of draxler but i gest nowhere to go lukas
abdul azeez skt

January 22, 2014 at 9:21 pm

arsenal need sign new striker
abdul azeez skt

January 22, 2014 at 9:22 pm

arsenal want new forward
abdul azeez skt

January 22, 2014 at 9:25 pm

arsenal is a best signing in englang
abdul azeez skt

January 22, 2014 at 9:27 pm

arsenal their made move for strong striker
Kunle

January 22, 2014 at 9:34 pm

Arsene in spain 4 who? He’s watching lev vs barc
- roger long
  
  January 23, 2014 at 9:58 am
  
  Messi of course.
arsenal fan

January 22, 2014 at 9:48 pm

Arsene would not make such a foolish mistake, though draxler is a wonder but for podolski going the other way will be a mistake as arsenal needs a striker this january and podolski can be that man while draxler takes his place on the wings.
Ally

January 22, 2014 at 10:37 pm

Arsenal are expecting new signing before the end of the transfer window, and Draxler w’ll come in i believe in Wenger
Joseph

January 22, 2014 at 11:08 pm

If Wenger allow Poldi to go that will the greatest mistake of Wenger life.
sued siraji

January 23, 2014 at 5:05 am

I cant believe any rumour coz I cant see poldosk going any weya
Achuil Tong

January 23, 2014 at 5:13 am

I appreciated the strugle of bringing in the striker but Lukas Boldy shouldn’t go.
Oge jenny

January 23, 2014 at 5:52 am

Lukas is not going any where he is a good finisher
Young

January 23, 2014 at 6:14 am

Even if wenger will sign any player but we dnt want podoski to go instead wenger should buy with money not with the ones we have now.
zuu samuel

January 23, 2014 at 6:29 am

please Mr. Wenger don’t sell podolski we love him. He still our only great finisher right now. Let him end his career here please
brown

January 23, 2014 at 6:45 am

We need shape strike lik suarez dis month bcos wifout strike arsenal can’t av d tittle.please mr wenger dnt ever do dat mistake to swap podolski @all.podo is a shape nd strong player.Abeg ooooooo
Tomisin Seun

January 23, 2014 at 7:21 am

Wenger made one mistake the last tym when he sold Gervinho to Roma, and no one happy with it. This is another one now, if he can mistakenly swap Podo, Wenger will regret bcos, he need to give Draxler some tym to adapt to English football. Up Gunners.
- roger long
  
  January 23, 2014 at 10:02 am
  
  Selling Gervinho a mistake? You ever seen him play for us? Headless chicken doesnt even begin to describe his crapness.
MOURLAI FODAY KAMARA

January 23, 2014 at 7:25 am

I will be very happy if only wenger sign Draxler this january,i am so excited when i had what the mangement have done,please Wenger use the 43m given to you by the Arsenal bord to sign Draxler.
Cheren jude

January 23, 2014 at 9:04 am

If d prof want 2 sign a player he shud use d money givn 2 him not takin out bst player 2 sumone who nid 2 adapt 2 epl it wil b nuisance seein pod liv & i dnt cherish dat idea, pls wenger we desperately nid a proven striker.
Olugbenga oni

January 23, 2014 at 9:21 am

If prof want 2 buy let him buy who eva he likes pls baba dont eva tamper with podolski if u do dat i ”ll” never 4give u in my live.
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Mister

January 23, 2014 at 9:41 am

Wenger doesnt like poldi at all, could be something personal
Michael

January 23, 2014 at 9:49 am

Baba ijebu u hv hard them dot try it cos podo is d only finisher we hv nw pls abeg sign
santigie

January 23, 2014 at 10:01 am

I think it will be a big mistake to give away Podolski.So Wenger don’t try it.
taban abui

January 23, 2014 at 10:32 am

Winger the teacher i hope what you are doing now is good try to sell and do replacement go for Julius and offload Benthiner and lukas
taban Arikanjelo

January 23, 2014 at 10:37 am

Arsenal need a person who can end the problem of trophy-less, therefore winger our hope is in you by buying Julius and offload Benthiner
enendu

January 23, 2014 at 11:18 am

Wenger should bring in julian, offload bendtner, then give podo till end of d season.
- kessy bright
  
  January 23, 2014 at 12:27 pm
  
  2 giv away poldi will be a massive mistake have made in his life pls prof dont .kessy bright
nelson‏ ‏‎ mandela

January 23, 2014 at 12:17 pm

i need wenger should be shock if he let podosiki go b’se of drexler i watched him several times podosiki is mach better than drexler.