Arsenal are set for a busy finale to the summer transfer window, with Arsene Wenger looking to trim his squad significantly, but the Gunners also need to be prepared to make further signings in the market- especially when a golden opportunity presents itself.
The Gunners have made an impression in the market already with the captures of Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette, the latter of whom arrived for a club-record fee, but the performance against Leicester City on the opening weekend shows there is still room for improvement.
Arsene Wenger has been very public with his interest in Monaco ace Thomas Lemar throughout the past few months but the French champions have stood firm, making it extremely unlikely that a move for the 21-year-old will go ahead this month.
If Arsenal remain keen on bolstering their attacking midfield and wide options though, then the Gunners attention must have surely been attracted over the past few days following reports on the continent that suggest Julian Draxler is available.
The German ace is a long-term target of Wenger’s but moved to Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, seemingly ended any chance of him coming to North London. However, following the world-record signing of Neymar, it’s claimed Unai Emery doesn’t have a spot in the side for Draxler.
Aged just 23, Draxler still has his finest years ahead of him and the opportunity to capture his signature should certainly not be ignored- especially as the futures of Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continue to be shrouded in speculation.
Wenger has made it clear both players will be staying at Arsenal for the forthcoming season but has admitted it’s a financial risk, as the Gunners face the prospect of losing both assets for nothing at the end of the season when their contracts expire.
Draxler would be a solid replacement for either of that pairing, being capable of immediately replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain within the squad whilst having the potential to become as crucial to the Gunners’ ranks as Alexis has in recent years.