Arsenal's move for Julian Draxler crumbles

ARSENAL’S big-money move for Julian Draxler is on the brink of collapse - with their Premier League rivals ready to pounce.

HE AIN’T GUNNER GO: Draxler could wait and weigh up his options in the summer [STUART ROBINSON]

Draxler has been alerted he will have his pick of the top clubs in the summer and is now poised to reject the chance to join the Gunners before tonight’s 11pm transfer deadline.

Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea are all set to join the hunt for the Schalke striker at the end of the season if he stays in Germany.

Arsenal’s offers for the 20-year-old have not been enough so far and boss Arsene Wenger will now have to bid at least £33m to have any chance of getting the Draxler deal done today.

Schalke have already said no to £17m plus Lukas Podolski at the start of this window and rejected another of £25m approach earlier this month.

Starsport can reveal Schalke were ready to give Draxler the green light to seal a switch to Arsenal yesterday morning.

WINDOW PAIN: Wenger hopes look shattered [ACTION IMAGES]

“I am very convinced that Draxler will be playing for us in the second half of the season, but most probably beyond that”

Horst Heldt

And they were preparing for life without him by lining up a move for Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby.
Draxler’s £37m buyout clause doesn’t become active in the summer and Schalke are willing to accept a slightly lower sum now.
But Arsenal believe Draxler isn’t yet the finished article and are unwilling to stump up the money Schalke are demanding.
They are prepared to pay a smaller upfront fee with performance-related add-ons that push the fee closer to German’s asking price.
Schalke, though, fear missing out on some of the money because the incentives will be difficult for Draxler to achieve.
Some members of the Arsenal board are understood to be willing to pay out for Draxler.

CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE: Wenger could bid for former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou [GETTY]

But Wenger, who has his doubts about spending big on a player who is mainly potential at the moment, will have the final say.
And he was last night considering alternatives including £2.5m Lille forward Salomon Kalou, who is keen on a move to the Emirates.
Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt said yesterday: “I am very convinced that Draxler will be playing for us in the 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.”