Huge confusion is starting to arise surrounding Julian Draxler’s transfer to Arsenal as although many believed Arsenal officials were in Germany to speak with Schalke, their sporting director has rejected these claims.
Horst Heldt spoke at a news conference on Thursday and stated that Draxler will not be leaving the club in January or in the summer.
He also added that nobody was at his office on Wednesday when many believed Arsenal’s chief transfer negotiator was there.
Draxler not leaving…
The Guardian quoted the sporting director, Heldt said: “We are happy to have such a world-class player in our lines.
“I am very convinced that Draxler will be playing for us in the Rückrunde [second half of the season] but most probably beyond that.
“We are not interested in letting Julian leave, and he has also not approached us about a transfer.”
Dick Law goes missing?
On Arsenal sending chief transfer negotiator Dick Law to Schalke to arrange a deal, Heldt added: “I checked my office if someone was waiting for me, but nobody was there.”
ESPN quoted the sporting director on Draxler’s reported £37 million release clause, which he insists isn’t exactly true.
No £37 million release clause
Whilst Schalke media director Thomas Spiegel told the website that no agreement has been struck with Arsenal.
“That agreement was only in place for last year, from now on the transfer fee is up for negotiation,” said Heldt.
Spiegel added: “Our positions remains unchanged. There is nothing Horst Heldt has to be concerned with.”
Who is telling porkies?
However this comes off the back of various newspaper reports this morning stating that Arsenal were on the verge of completing the signing of Draxler.
Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph insisting this was the case so who has got the wrong end of the stick?
It is hard to know for sure but it would be incredibly unlikely for a club to come out and reveal that they are selling their star player, instead they would most likely reject any claims that he is leaving.
This is something our rivals Tottenham did for a large chunk of last summer and looked what happened with that situation.
So I wouldn’t worry too much about Heldt because it is probably a cover story to ensure they find a replacement for Draxler.
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