by Lewis Ambrose

Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler could be on the market this summer, will Arsène Wenger make a move?

The Arsenal manager is said to be a fan of the 21 year-old, and tried to sign him back in the January transfer window of 2013.

Back then Draxler was a highly rated teenager who had not only broken in to the first team at Schalke but had already become a key part of their side.

On Monday Sky Sport News HD of Germany said that it was “increasingly likely” that Draxler would be moving to a Premier League club this summer, and listed Arsenal as well as Manchester City as potential suitors.

The current contract of the Schalke talent is said to have a €45 million release clause, but the Bundesliga club would almost certainly be willing to sell him for less.

Stagnated

The attacking midfielder, who can play wide or centrally, lost his midfield partner Lewis Holtby during the 2012/13 season and has since struggled to find the form that made his reputation as one of the biggest young talents in Europe.

Draxler’s stagnation hasn’t been helped by injury, with the midfielder only managing to start 11 Bundesliga and Champions League games in the 2014/15 season.

Last summer Draxler was part of the Germany squad that won the World Cup and at the age of 21 his career is far from over, especially if he’s a player Wenger has liked for some time and even tried to sign in the past.

With Draxler still young enough to develop and possibly available below market value it’s the sort of deal the Arsenal manager would love.

Watch this space?