• Bundesliga

Schalke accept Arsenal target Draxler may leave

ESPN staff
January 10, 2014
Walcott's injury could force Wenger to spend

Schalke remain hopeful that Julian Draxler will stay with the club beyond the summer, but sporting director Horst Heldt admits they may be powerless to keep him.

At 20 years old, Draxler has established himself as a key figure at Schalke and has won 10 caps for Germany, with the versatile midfielder hoping to secure a place in Joachim Loew's World Cup squad.

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Having joined the Royal Blues at the age eight and worked his way through the ranks, he became the club's youngest ever debutant in January 2011 and has already made 89 Bundesliga appearances.

His fine form during that time has led to links with several top European clubs, including Arsenal, and - although he extended his contract until 2018 last summer - he will be able to leave the club at the end of the season if a bid of €45.5 million arrives.

The rumours of a potential departure increased this week following the news Sidney Sam has agreed to join Schalke in the summer and, although Heldt insisted that they have no desire to sell Draxler, the club know the matter may be out of their own hands.

"We still hope that Julian stays, but there are elements we can't influence," he told Bild.

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