Transfer rumor: Arsenal want Draxler in January

L’Equipe reported today that Arsenal has been in contact with Paris Saint-Germain over a loan move for Julian Draxler in the January transfer window.

Draxler, who has been linked to Arsenal for what feels like forever, has had a decent season thus far, with two goals and three assists in eight starts in all competitions. Rumors of a transfer were rampant this past summer, especially once Neymar and Kylian Mbappe joined PSG. L’Equipe even revealed in August that Draxler was free to leave despite only signing for PSG last January, only for his agent to scuttle that report.

The arrivals of Neymar and Mbappe have had an impact on Draxler; he’s started multiple times for PSG this season in the midfield, rather than up front, his natural position. And of his eight starts, Draxler has only played the full ninety minutes four times.

We’ve been down this road so many times before that this sole report isn’t enough to make a definitive statement that Arsenal has serious interest and/or this move has any chance of happening. Yet, Draxler remains an ideal replacement for Alexis Sanchez, who has been strongly linked to PSG for months now. Reports of a possible swap of Draxler and Alexis surfaced last month, so look out for those to re-emerge if Arsenal’s interest in Draxler picks up steam.