Gunners agree Draxler deal.
Arsenal have agreed to meet Julian Draxler’s €45m (£37m) release clause, according Italian source Tuttomercato.
Read more Arsenal transfer news.
The Germany international playmaker could now fly to London before the end of the month for talks with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
The North London club have long been linked with a move for Draxler, 20, who has previously hinted he would be interested in a move to the Emirates Stadium.
“I have always said English teams are very big clubs and Arsenal is of course one of them,” Draxler is quoted as saying by Goal.com last month.
“Of course I sometimes speak to [Arsenal players] Mesut [Ozil] or Per [Mertesacker] about the team, about the club, and they always have good words and they tell me nice things.
“You never know what happens in the summer but Arsenal is a very, very nice team. They always have very young players, they play attractive football and that’s what I like.”
Draxler is currently sidelined with an ankle tendon injury and is unlikely to play again before the beginning of March – a factor ignored by Tuttomercato.
The young playmaker has spent most of this season on the left wing for Schalke but has admitted he would prefer to play a number ten role; at Arsenal, this position is occupied by Draxler’s Germany international teammate Mesut Ozil, who would not be an easy man to dislodge.
Tuttomercato says Lukas Podolski will not be used as a makeweight in the deal for Draxler.
SEE ALSO: Best Football Manager wonderkids