Rumour: Schalke's Julian Draxler 'desperate' for Arsenal move

Schalke 04′s coach Keller talks to Draxler during a training session in Gelsenkirchen

Arsenal may yet add to their squad before the close of the transfer window this week, with The Mirror suggesting that reported target Julian Draxler is pushing hard for a move to the club. The Schalke midfielder has long been linked with a move to the Gunners and is reportedly “desperate” to join the club.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had suggested that he is unlikely to do any business in the final week of the transfer window, but has reportedly entered talks with Schalke over a deal for Draxler. The German midfielder has made 14 Bundesliga appearances this season, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

However, whilst Arsenal have reportedly entered negotiations over Draxler the clubs are believed to be some way apart in their valuations of the midfielder. Draxler has a £40 million release clause, although that does not become active until the summer, and Schalke are understood to be seeking a fee in the region of £35 million for him.

Whilst Wenger seems unperturbed at the prospect of a quiet transfer window in North London, a move for Draxler would help him to add to his attacking firepower as the Premier League season reaches it’s climax.

With just a week left until the transfer window slams shut, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can replicate their signing of Mesut Ozil at the end of the last transfer window and pull off a big money deal in the dying days of the window.

The Arsenal target has gone past his man every 16.5 minutes in this season’s Bundesliga.