Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund target commits future.
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Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund look set to miss out on highly rated midfielder Julian Draxler, after Schalke signed their highly prized 19-year-old to a new contract.
Bild reports that Draxler has put pen to paper on a contract extension until 2018, with a minimum release fee clause of £34million, which should be enough to put off potential suitors for now.
This will be a particular blow to Dortmund, as they seem likely to lose many of their highly-coveted players this summer. Mario Goetze has already been confirmed as joining rivals Bayern Munich, while Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan have also been linked with several of Europe’s top clubs.
Just to rub salt into the wound, Schalke sent eight minibuses with celebratory pictures of Draxler in next season’s away kit around the city, as well as one into Dortmund!
Arsenal will now turn their attention to the likes of Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez in an attempt to bolster their attacking midfield options for next season, while Dortmund will be keen not to lose too many of their big names.
Schalke will welcome this boost as they look to cement a place in the Bundesliga top four, and possibly welcome Chelsea interim boss Rafael Benitez as their new manager next season.