by Lewis Ambrose

Arsenal have been linked with Schalke 04 captain Benedikt Höwedes for months – will the German defender be in London next season?

After a disappointing season Schalke will only play in the Europa League next season, and it is yet to be decided who their head coach will be.

Schalke's defender Benedikt Hoewedes reacts during the German first division Bundesliga football match of FC Cologne vs FC Schalke 04 in Cologne, western Germany on May 10, 2015. Cologne won the match 2-0. AFP PHOTO / SASCHA SCHUERMANN
Schalke’s defender Benedikt Hoewedes reacts during the German first division Bundesliga football match of FC Cologne vs FC Schalke 04 in Cologne, western Germany on May 10, 2015. Cologne won the match 2-0. AFP PHOTO / SASCHA SCHUERMANN

Fan protests after some dismal performances have left a pretty black cloud over the club and it could be about to get even worse.

Schalke captain and German international Benedikt Höwedes will be available this summer – the defender has a release clause so there’s nothing the club could do to block a move.

The defender regularly plays centrally but played every minute of Germany’s successful World Cup campaign at left-back.

Fee

The rumours surrounding the clause have tended to vary but Daily Star reporting that Schalke would listen to bids of around £15M isn’t quite right – they wouldn’t listen, they would have no choice but to accept.

German magazine kicker have reported that Arsenal are among other clubs in England and Italy to have made a concrete offer to the defender.

The general consensus between kicker and Bild seems to be that Höwedes would be available for around €17.5M at most – roughly £13M.

Captain of a club used to Champions League football, 27 years old, and a World Cup winer it would be a surprise if teams weren’t in for him at that price. Bild have even speculated that his clause could be activated by a bid as low as £9M but that seems incredibly unlikely.

Move

Earlier this year Höwedes was quoted saying a move abroad “at a certain time would be worth an experience,” claiming that his “goal” would be a transfer to England.

It would be no shock to see the versatile defender leave Schalke this year but Arsenal are unlikely to be interested.

Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny are firmly secure as first choice while the club has also added Calum Chambers and Gabriel in the previous two transfer windows.

Höwedes would demand a place high up the pecking order and – strange as it may seem – Arsenal don’t need another central defender.