Midfielder was the Gunners’ No 1 summer transfer target.
Arsenal have suffered a huge blow after it was confirmed that long-term transfer target Julian Draxler would not be joining the north London club next season after all, according to reports in the Daily Express.
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The Gunners spent most of the recent January transfer window negotiating with the Bundesliga outfit for their star man, although in the end the move collapsed after the two clubs were unable to come to any sort of agreement over a suitable price for the coveted Germany international.
However, it was still thought likely that Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger would return to try and buy the 20-year-old this summer, although those hopes now appear to be over, for this year at least, judging by the recent comments made by both the player’s agent and the Schalke 04 chairman.
“Why should a player leave the club if the club have just built a top team?” Draxler’s agent, Roger Wittman, told German sports daily SportBild.de.
“I also think it’s good if players stick to what they have signed.
“It would take an awful lot to happen for one of the two of them to leave. And even then I’m not sure it would be possible.
“The players understand that there is currently a lot of peace at the club and a lot of optimism about their future there.”
Meanwhile, Schalke chairman Clemens Torries also added: “If nothing extraordinary happens, Julian will stay with us.
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