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Arsenal plotting raid for £15.7m-rated goal-scoring midfielder - report
By Danny Wright
Arsenal are eyeing up a swoop for Schalke’s Leon Goretzka, according to a report.
German news outfit Bild reports that the Gunners are looking to tempt Goretzka away from the Veltins-Arena after he has failed to reach an agreement on a new contract at the club.
Serie A giants Juventus are also said to be monitoring the situation of the 22-year-old midfielder.
The report says that Schalke rate the German international at £15.7million and that his contract is due to expire in a 2018. If he rejects a new contract with a release clause, the club may be forced to sell him.
Schalke are currently underachieving in the Bundesliga, in ninth place and a massive 29 points off the top.
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Goretzka has scored six goals in all competitions for the Gelsenkirchen club in 31 appearances, but has only provided two assists.
His return this season is impressive when you consider Schalke’s form – only one team has scored less goals than Schalke in the top half of the Bundesliga.
Goretzka began his career in the academy at VfL Bochum before moving to the North Rhine club in 2013.
Since then, the German midfielder has made over 100 appearances and scored 13 goals, bagging eight assists for Schalke.
Football Insider Verdict
Goretzka was very highly rated when he was younger but at the age of 22 his progress appears to have stalled somewhat. That hasn’t stopped him being linked with teams of the caliber of the Juventus and Arsenal though, and with Schalke struggling it could spell a move for the talented youngster. Goretzka is an exciting player on the ball and, while he may not do all the dirty work, he would certainly fit into an Arsene Wenger team who could be looking to rebuild in the summer. This isn’t the sort of player that will get Arsenal fans excited though and it certainly won’t win round the #WengerOut brigade.
In other Arsenal news, these French giants have reportedly offered a contract to this under-fire man.
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