Draxler to Arsenal rumours heat up

Arsenal made a big splash in the summer when they completed a shock move for Mesut Ozil.

Arsene Wenger could do it again in January. 

Caught Offside reports Arsenal could complete a deal for Schalke MF Julian Draxler within the next seven to ten days. 

It won't come cheap, however, as the German youngster has a €45 million (£37.3m) release clause. 

Schalke has been aggressive in the transfer market in January, securing the services of Bayer Leverkusen's Sidney Sam and negotiating a loan deal with Tottenham's Lewis Holtby. 

Those moves are seen as an admission that Draxler will not be a member of the Gelsenkirchen club for long. 

With that said, it is believed a Draxler move to Arsenal makes more sense in the summer. 

Sky Sports' Peter Fraser explains why:

"However, even if a deal is agreed this month, it would be a surprise if Draxler moved before the summer given Schalke are facing Real Madrid in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League while youngster is thought to want to avoid the disruption of moving away from Germany before a World Cup in which he is expected to be a prominent member of his country's squad."

The 20-year-old has been an Arsenal target for some time and has been given the 'ultimate recommendation' from club scouts close to Wenger. 

We'll learn shortly whether this scenario will play out.