Schalke chief rules out Draxler move to Arsenal

Simon Collings 21:45 30/01/2014
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  • Staying put: Schalke say that Draxler will not be leaving in January.

    Schalke Sporting Director Horst Heldt is adamant that Arsenal target Julian Draxler will not be leaving the club during the January transfer window.

    Arsenal have been long term admirers of the German international, with the Gunners apparently keen to secure his services before the transfer deadline passes.

    However, Schalke insist that Draxler will be staying put, for now at least.

    “I am very sure that Julian will play in the second half for us – and probably beyond,” said Heldt.

    “We are not interested in letting Julian go and he has also not come to us with the wish to leave the club.”

    Despite the firm stance of Heldt, the Sporting Director confessed that the club would have to consider any substantial bid that came in.

    “Of course, there is always interest in him and if someone was to come and make a serious offer for him, then we would have to deal with that professionally.

    “That applies not only for Julian, but for any other player.”

    Schalke’s desire to potentially sell their prized asset, if the offer is right, provides Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger with a glimmer of hope in securing his main transfer target.

    Wenger confirmed on Tuesday after the club’s 2-2 draw with Southampton that he was hoping to add to his squad before Friday’s deadline.

    “I hope we have something to tell you because we lost a few players now,” Wenger said.

    On Thursday, the Frenchman reiterated that Arsenal were active in the market, but not necessarily close to signing anyone.

    “Are we active? Yes,” said the Arsenal manager.

    “Are we close to sign anybody? No.

    “There's not long now that's true. First, the situation was going like always in a transfer market – week by week.

    “In the last two weeks it goes day by day, now it goes hour by hour.

    “In any hour anything can happen or change but at the moment, unfortunately, we are not signing anybody.”

    In recent years Arsenal have become renowned for securing deadline day signings, have previously signed current squad members Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta and Per Mertescaker on the final day of transfer windows.

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