Arsenal and Liverpool have been looking towards the Bundesliga to shop for years. The Premier League pair are among clubs who regularly send scouts to the country and have a record of purchases.
Not all transfer efforts end the way the clubs intend. Arsenal especially have a long list of players who they nearly signed. It almost became a meme during the Arsene Wenger tenure, with nearly every breakthrough player having just missed out on the Gunners.
One of those players is Julian Draxler, who early in his career was one of the most wanted German youngsters around. Now 32-years-of age he’s in the winter of his career and picking up the money at Al Ahli in Qatar.
Before that, Draxler had played for the likes of Schalke, Wolfsburg, PSG and Benfica. That list could have easily included Arsenal, Liverpool or both.
Draxler has granted a long interview to this week’s edition of SportBild. He was asked if there’s a moment in his career to which he’d return and make a different decision.
To that, the attacking midfielder replied: “There are several. When I was still very young at Schalke and extended my contract, I could have gone to Arsenal. Honestly, I’d be interested to see what would have become of me if I had learned from Arsene Wenger so early.
“I’ve also wondered what would have happened if I hadn’t gone from Wolfsburg to Paris, but to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool. I had that opportunity, too. Nevertheless, I’m happy. I’m at peace with my decisions.”