As the opening of the summer transfer window approaches, managers are working hard identifying targets and lining-up potential deals so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are in pole position to sign Julian Draxler….

Arsenal are in pole position ahead of Manchester United to sign Julian Draxler this summer but Schalke have slapped a £30m asking price on the playmakers head, according to the Express.

Draxler has long been linked with a move to the Premier League with Arsenal in particular strongly linked with the player during recent transfer windows.

The 21-year-old claimed to the BBC that he had turned down an approach from the North Londoners in January 2014 before signing a new five-year contract with Schalke.

It appears the Gunners could be about to try their luck again as the Express suggest that Arsenal are ready to renew their interest in the German international this summer.

The newspaper says that Draxler wants to move abroad after a frustrating campaign in the Bundesliga with Arsenal understood to be in pole position to secure his signature.

However, it’s far from a ‘done deal’ as the Express claim that Arsene Wenger may not be willing to pay the £30m Schalke are demanding for his services which could open the door for Manchester United to swoop in and lure Draxler to Old Trafford.

The playmaker has been with Schalke his entire professional career having joined the clubs youth set up as an eight year old in 2001 and he developed into one of the most highly-rated young attackers in European football.

But his stock has fallen over the past year after a serious hamstring injury restricted him to making just 11 starts in all competitions last season, which resulted in just 2 goals and 2 assists.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Draxler returned to play some part in the final few games of last season but it remains to be seen how long it will take him to get back to the level he was at before his injury, so I’d be surprised if the likes of Wenger or van Gaal agreed to spend £30m on him any time soon.

He’s no doubt a huge talent but it would be a big risk to spend such an amount on a young player before we see how well his hamstring has recovered, so unless Schalke reduce their demands I don’t think we’ll be seeing him come to the Premier League this summer.