Schalke have insisted that rumours in German newspaper BILD about Leroy Sane are false and that the talented star will not be leaving the club.
The media outlet had suggested that the highly-rated 20-year-old’s agent had entered discussions with Arsenal over a possible €37m move.
Horst #Heldt hierzu: Weder in diesem Winter noch im Sommer greift eine Ausstiegsklausel bei Leroy #Sané. #S04https://t.co/nbTvpPhkCH
— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) January 12, 2016
That fee is the amount required to activate his release clause in his contract, and in turn it would have allowed the Gunners to enter into personal talks.
However, Schalke have moved to dismiss the speculation by tweeting that their prized asset will not be leaving in January or the summer via his release clause.
As a result, it is expected that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will have to focus his attention elsewhere this month, provided that his interest was real, while there were suggestions that the Frenchman would have faced stiff competition for Sane from around Europe too.
Arsenal currently sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and remain amongst the heavy favourites to win the title this season.
However, with the likes of Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin sidelined through injury until March, it is felt as though the club need reinforcements in the January transfer window in order to sustain their title push.
Wenger will likely look to address the weaknesses in his squads in the next fortnight, but it doesn’t appear as though he will be successful in his reported pursuit of Sane any time soon.