Could the Bundesliga club keep hold of the prodigy beyond this summer?
Schalke boss Clemens Tonnies wants to keep Arsenal target Julian Draxler at his Bundesliga club for another two years, German publication Bild.
Arsenal were heavily linked with a January transfer for the 20-year-old playmaker, but never made a move for him in the end, instead bringing in currently injured Swede Kim Kallstrom in for a minimal fee.
Tonnies though, hopes he can keep the £37m rated wonderkid beyond this summer, and build a team around him.
I will fight to keep Julian, I am in very close contact with him. I’m just try to teach him that he can still progress at Schalke for a good a year or two,” the German boss said.
He did admit though that in the future, Draxler would likely move on…
“Schalke are a big club, but there are even bigger. In the long run we want our young players to succeed, and we do not block them in their way,” he continued.
“Julian is not cheap, he has a long-term contract.”
This term, Draxler has scored four goals and assisted five, but been a consistent creative influence from the left in both the Bundesliga and Champions League.
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