Julian Draxler is tipped to be the next big thing in European football and at 19 years of age he is already a first team regular at Schalke. He recently became the club’s youngest player to feature in 100 competitive games, but his time at the Bundesliga outfit may be nearing an end.
Anyone following the transfer strategy used in the deals completed by Chelsea in recent windows, would clearly see that they have departed from the ways of the past where they purchased so called “ready made” players and that they have changed tack and are now tracking the world’s best youngsters and have already acquired quite a few talented players in the form of Hazard, Oscar, Courtois and Lukaku to name but a few. Chelsea are also starting to develop some players from their academy like Ryan Bertrand and Jost McEachran.
The Blues are currently eyeing several hot properties in the Bundesliga and want to bring the 19-year-old Draxler to Stamford Bridge in the summer. Other teams including Liverpool are rumored to be monitoring the situation with a view to luring the youngster away from Schalke. Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich, is set to name a new manager since current interim manager Rafa Benitez has announced his departure at the end of the season, but that has not deterred the Chelsea board from honing in on the talented playmaker.
However, according to talkSPORT, Chelsea are set to miss out on the teenage sensation. Schalke currently occupy the last Champions League spot and would need to finish fourth or higher, to convince Draxler to stay.
He has been flattered by the interest shown in him and said, “I know there are offers from some of the top European clubs. I think that is an honour.” On being asked about a contract extension, he said “Everything is imaginable.” If Schalke do miss out on Champions League football for next term, it could be difficult to keep hold of their star player if a big money offer comes in from Chelsea.
Chelsea already have a vast array of talented midfielders and it will be difficult to see how Draxler could be integrated in to the team. The likes of Mata, Hazard and Oscar are in excellent form and they also have the hugely impressive De Bruyne set to come back from a loan spell. Another German player, in the form of Marko Marin, currently in the Chelsea first team squad has seen his opportunities be few and far between this season and Draxler must be fearful of the same fate becoming him if he came to the Blues.
If the Blues are intent on snapping up the German midfielder, they could send him back out on loan to Schalke for a couple of seasons, to continue his development prior to coming to London. They are doing the same with players like Courtois and Lukaku, and could continue such a policy with Draxler if they sign him in the summer.