Arsenal are reportedly monitoring the progress of Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, whose contract is due to expire at the end of next season. The 22-year-old is also a transfer target for Serie A holders Juventus.
Goretzka has shone for the Bundesliga outfit in recent years, and his performances this season, in particular, has impressed his suitors.
Arsene Wenger’s side are in need of more steel in their midfield setup following yet another disappointing campaign in the Premier League, and according to Bild, Goretzka is the latest midfield talent to have captured their attention.
The youngster currently has around 15 months left on his existing deal, and it is understood that Schalke would be willing to sell him on the cheap, should he decline a fresh extension at the Veltins-Arena.
Schalke lost a key player in Joel Matip on a Bosman to Liverpool last summer, and this is becoming a new trend at the German club – with Sead Kolasinac also in line to leave at the expiry of his contract come July.
Goretzka, who is a full international with Germany, is understood to be available for a bargain sum in the summer, and the Gunners are hopeful of luring the midfield talent to north London ahead of European rivals Juventus.
The midfielder is currently valued at around £16m – nearly half of what the Gunners paid for Granit Xhaka to Borussia Monchengladbach last summer, and a cut-price deal would benefit the club focus on their attacking department ahead of the 2017/18 campaign.
Arsenal are still under discussions over fresh contracts for both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, and it is predicted that the club would be tempted to sell if the pair refuse to extend terms before the end of the campaign.
Both Ozil and Sanchez have their deals expiring in the summer of 2018, and their sales could provide sufficient funds for a potential spending spree.
