Arsenal Transfer News: Julian Draxler, Isco Among 4 Players Linked With January Moves

For the first time in several years, there is no significant pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to add to his squad ahead of the January transfer window. Still, recent speculation suggests he could yet be tempted to dip into the club’s coffers for a signing or two who could make the difference in a highly competitive Premier League title race. And, following Tuesday’s disappointing defeat at Everton, the rumors may yet crank up yet further as January approaches.

Wenger has regularly faced calls from supporters to bolster his ranks in mid-season following a lackluster summer window and a crippling injury crisis. This time around, though, there are no such extreme problems.

Wenger addressed two key needs in the summer with the signings of center-back Shkodran Mustafi and midfielder Granit Xhaka. He also reinforced his forward line with the recruitment of Lucas Perez while stumbling upon Alexis Sanchez as the solution to the absence of a top-level striker.

The injury list is also not as severe as it has been in the past. The one major absentee ruled out for the long term is Santi Cazorla. Though the Spaniard has passing qualities unique to Arsenal’s central midfielders, Wenger has said that he will not look for a replacement in January.

Indeed, one central midfielder Arsenal was linked to has now had a move elsewhere confirmed. Riechedly Bazoer is the latest highly rated product to emerge from Ajax’s famed youth academy and has already won six caps for the Netherlands. He has been mentioned as a target for Arsenal as well as Manchester City and Barcelona, but on Wednesday Wolfsburg announced that the 20-year-old had agreed to a transfer to the Bundesliga club.

Aside from Bazoer, Arsenal has also been linked with a trio of high-profile attacking midfielders. One of the names will be particularly familiar to Arsenal fans. It was in January 2014 that Arsenal was in talks to sign Julian Draxler when the Germany international was still at Schalke.

That deal fell through and Draxler went on to join Wolfsburg in a big-money deal in the summer of 2015. But his time at the Volkswagen Arena has turned sour after he announced his intention to leave the club in the summer. It was a stance he reiterated at the start of December and he has since found himself on the sidelines.

And Arsenal, along with Juventus, remains interested in his services, according to the Daily Mail. However, Wolfsburg’s desire to recoup its £30 million outlay on the player could reportedly scare off the Gunners.

While Arsenal can already count on the playmaking talents of one Germany international in Mesut Ozil, it is possible that Wenger, following the move of Sanchez up front, could eye up Draxler as an upgrade as the left-sided attacking midfielder.

The same could be said for possible interest in West Ham’s Dimitri Payet. One of the stars of the Premier League last season in his first campaign in England, the France international cast doubt on his future at West Ham when in November he said that “I’ve closed the door to nothing” in response to a question about a possible transfer in January.

Arsenal has been cited as one of many possible destinations, but West Ham would be loathed to lose the 29-year-old in January, particularly as it currently faces a relegation battle. But he could be available for far cheaper in the summer. If West Ham do end up dropping down to the Championship, a clause in Payet’s contract means he would be able to leave for just £15 million, reports The Times.

The third attacking midfielder to be linked is Real Madrid’s Isco. While the Spain international has been handed a prominent role in the Madrid team of late, the fact that he has yet to sign an extension to a contract that expires in the summer of 2018 has seen his future at the Bernabeu come under scrutiny.

And Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have all made tempting offers to the 24-year-old, according to Spanish outlet Diario Gol. At this stage, however, it would be a surprise were the interest from other clubs being used as anything more than a negotiating tactic on the part of Isco’s representatives.