Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is 80% certain the Gunners will make a signing today but it will not be Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler after the two sides failed to agree a price.
Speaking as the clock now runs down to the close of the window at 11pm GMT the Arsenal boss according to Sky Sports said: “The Draxler situation has been created by the newspapers, not by me.”
“That applies not only for Julian, but for any other player.”
“You ask me ‘what is the situation?’ I say nothing is happening on that front. He will stay at Schalke.
“At the moment we need more midfielders. We are open-minded, active and look at the opportunities.
“We still try to bring at least one body in because we are hit now by the red card of Flamini, the setback of Ramsey, the fact that Wilshere is not available, though I hope that will be short-term.
“We are short and I am confident we will bring someone in today. It is 80-20.”
Schalke chief Horst Heldt insists that Draxler is staying with the club for the rest of the season and ‘probably’ beyond.
Meanwhile Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt insists that Draxler will be staying at the club saying: “I am very sure that Julian will play in the second half for us – and probably beyond.”
“We are not interested in letting Julian go and he has also not come to us with the wish to leave the club.
“Of course, there is always interest in him and if someone was to come and make a serious offer for him, then we would have to deal with that professionally.
