Arsenal’s determination to solve their striking problem has seen them turn their attention to German international, Julian Draxler, 22.
The Gunners had been intent on signing Alexandre Lacazette, 25, from Lyon but baulked as the asking price rose to £42m. It had been rumoured that the French international’s contract featured a release clause of €40m but this proved to be untrue.
As Les Gones played hardball, the north London club reached the limit of their valuation on Lacazette and the parties remain far apart.
Attention has turned to Draxler who only moved to Wolfsburg last summer. A key member of Germany’s Euro 2016 campaign, Arsenal have been told that it will cost €50m to take him to the Premier League. So far, it hasn’t deterred last season’s runners-up from pursuing the deal.
Draxler was heavily linked with a move to north London in 2013 but instead signed a new contract at Schalke. Wolfsburg took everyone by surprise last summer when they signed the winger as a replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, 25, after his move to Manchester City.
Now, it seems Arsenal are intent on landing their man. Wenger sees the German as the perfect alternative to Olivier Giroud, about whom questions remain despite his good form for France this summer.
The Gunners season collapsed in the spring as Giroud embarked on a 15-match scoreless run during which Arsenal fell away from the title race. Their second place finish owed as much to Tottenham’s collapse as their own form as goals remained hard to come by. Wenger is determined that the problem will be solved this summer.
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