Why Signing Julian Draxler Is The Only Way Arsenal Can Save Their Transfer Window
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Arsenal’s summer transfer window, after a strong start, is in shambles.
The Gunners kicked off the summer recruitment, bringing in versatile left-back Sead Kolasinac from Schalke on a free transfer after his contract with the German club expired. They then followed it up with the capture of star striker Alexandre Lacazette for a club record fee of £52.6million from French club Olympique Lyon.
It was followed up with strong interest in AS Monaco’s exciting winger Thomas Lemar, with the North Londoners having three bids rejected for the 21-year old. However, a win over Chelsea in the FA Community Shield set the right tone for the coming season.
A nervy, last-ditch win over Leicester City in the Premier League season opener wasn’t what Arsene Wenger would have visualised, but it was still three points. Then, a disappointing 1-0 loss away to Stoke City turned the mood somewhat sombre at the Emirates.
But, in the last week or so, things have gone so awry for the Gunners, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the worst is hitting the fans!
As if a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Liverpool wasn’t enough, reports emerged in the aftermath that the Gunners were set to lose versatile midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the Reds, after he had rejected a move to Premier League champions Chelsea.
The 23-year old was in the final year of his contract with the North London outfit, but rejected a new deal on the offer in order to force through a move away. Now Liverpool have confirmed the signing of the England international, for a fee that could rise up to £40million.
Last summer’s signing, Shkodran Mustafi, too tried to engineer a move away to Inter Milan and until Wednesday, a deal looked very much on the horizon. But since then, the speculations have quietened down, with the Italian club stating that the deal will not be completed.
The biggest threat that looms over the Gunners on the deadline day though, is the likely departure of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean, much like Oxlade-Chamberlain, had made it clear that he wants to move on after his contract entered the final 12 months, with league rivals Manchester City circling like sharks. But, Wenger and the club remain adamant that they will not be pushed into selling him. However, according to recent reports, a bid in the region of £70million from City could prove to be enough to get Arsenal to sell their star man.
True, making a profit of over £100million, on two players who were in the final year of their contracts represents great business, but the quality of the players that Arsenal would be losing is sure to leave the fans with a sour taste. Sanchez has been their best player by miles in the last couple of seasons and Oxlade-Chamberlain too had been growing in stature since last season.
With Ox gone and Sanchez likely to follow suit, it leaves Arsenal with precious little time to find replacements. But, one way or the only way, for them to save their summer from being an absolute disaster would be bringing in a marquee player before the deadline. And the player that they should be looking at is Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler.
The German international is surplus to requirements at the Parc Des Princes, following Neymar’s arrival. He has been told to find a new club before the window closes. There have been reports of interests from the Gunners, but it is high time that they firm up their interest, go out and sign Draxler.
The 23-year old signed for Les Parisiens only in January this year and had a great start to life, scoring 10 goals and registering 3 assists in 25 games. However, he has played only 12 minutes of football for Unai Emery’s side this season, who sees the likes of Angel di Maria, Lucas Moura and Javier Pastore ahead of the German international in the pecking order.
Able to play anywhere in the attack, Draxler is a hugely gifted player with exceptional abilities and potential to become a world-class player. Dribbling, finishing, passing, crossing, shooting from distance, you name it and the 23-year old excels at every possible facet of attacking play. Immensely blessed with technique, the former Wolfsburg man can sit in a No.10 role and control proceedings, or play out wide, from where he can both stretch defences and also cut inside to devastating effect.
His winning mentality and his know-how is another added advantage. The 23-year old was part of the Germany side that won the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and more recently, he captained the national team to the FIFA Confederations Cup triumph in Russia a couple of months ago.
The loss of Sanchez, no matter how much Arsenal recoup, will be a bitter blow. But if they manage to sign Draxler from PSG before the window slams shut, they will have taken a step in the right direction to address their transfer failings.