Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Jakub Blaszczykowski and Julian Draxler Rumours

Arsenal have reportedly been "put on alert" following rumours linking Borussia Dortmund star Jakub Blaszczykowski away from the club.

That's according to talkSPORT, who noted that Bild is reporting the midfielder as a target for Real Betis after failing to get on the pitch in any of BVB's three games this season, but the Pole's wage demands "could price out Betis and bring Premier League heavyweights into the equation."


The 29-year-old missed the first half of last season because of the cruciate ligament injury that ended his campaign the year before and completed just four matches in all competitions.
In his last full season for the club, he racked up an impressive total of 14 goals and 15 assists, but that was in 2012-13, so a move for Blaszczykowski now would be a hefty risk given the winger's wage demands and injury problems.

That said, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger recently admitted he was prepared to take a gamble in the transfer market, per Metro's Sean Kearns:

Of course, there’s pressure to keep up with them [Arsenal’s rivals]. All of them have spent more money but only one can win the title.
There is always time to take a gamble and we are not against taking a gamble, but what you want is to take a gamble in a market where the opportunity is there.
It’s not just the consequence of the money they spend in how successful you are, that is why you have to keep your nerve and not buy just because the others buy. You should buy because you have found a player that can really give you a plus.

However, as good as Blaszczykowski has been for Dortmund in the past, he's not likely to sign for Arsenal.
Nor, it should be said, is Wenger likely to consider signing any 29-year-old with few minutes on the pitch in the last 18 months, whether he's ready to gamble or not.
A slightly more realistic option is Julian Draxler, who has been perpetually linked with a move to the Emirates for some time.
This time, the link comes from SportsMediaset, via James Cambridge of the Express, who reports the German's proposed move to Juventus has hit a stumbling block in the form of his £22 million price tag, "paving the way for Arsenal" to capitalise on the breakdown in negotiations.
Draxler himself missed a huge chunk of last season because of injury. As Bleacher Report's own Clark Whitney noted, the creative midfielder also represents a risk:
That could make a move to Arsenal difficult, as the Gunners already boast a wealth of talent there.
With Draxler still only 21 and having already racked up 30 goals and 29 assists for Schalke's senior side, he has the potential for greatness and is a far more realistic target than Blaszczykowski.
However, with Arsenal well-stocked with creative midfielders and having never made their supposed interest in the German concrete with a formal offer, it seems highly unlikely he'll be moving to the Emirates this summer.