Arsenal had a serious chance in the winter window to sign the brilliant German youngster Julian Draxler.
Even spokespeople from Schalke implied that Arsenal had made a bid but that it wasn’t enough.
However, Schalke Sporting Director Horst Heldt has suggested the only reason that Arsenal failed to land the attacking midfielder was because they didn’t offer enough cash.
Asked about the Gunners offer by German television channel SPORT1, Heldt replied: ‘It was a lot of money, but it wasn’t enough for us.’
Drexler has a reported release clause in his contract for £37.3 million.
It’s a lot of money for a youngster – but after the summer it may seem like peanuts.
An arguable lack of decisiveness on the part of Arsene Wenger means that Arsenal may have lost their chance to get the player in the short to medium term.
Because much as Wenger is loathe to pay over the odds for football talent it seems that £35m is the going rate for a really good player these days.
And the investment makes even more sense with the player still only 20 years of age.
But his agent has perhaps reflected the changed mood with regards an Arsenal transfer by telling Bild:
“Why should a player leave the club if the club have just built a top team”
We still feel that Arsenal can get the player if Arsenal Wenger moves decisively. He’s an idealist and doesn’t want to have to pay silly money – but it’s just the way of things if you want to win titles.
If he really wants the player then he needs to get his cash out before somebody else comes in and snatches away another top talent from Arsenal’s grasp.
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