Arsenal are continuing talks with Schalke over a deal to sign Julian Draxler before Friday’s deadline but are also weighing up a contingency loan move for Juventus striker Mirko Vucinic.
Negotiations between the Gunners and the German club over Draxler were ongoing today with Arsene Wenger reluctant to meet the attacking midfielder’s £37million release clause.
Standard Sport understands the two clubs remain some way apart on their valuation of the 20-year-old and although Schalke would prefer not to sell this month, Arsenal are hopeful of concluding a transfer before tomorrow night’s 11pm deadline.
Should the situation not progress, the Gunners may switch to alternatives with Juventus prepared to sanction a loan deal for Vucinic having initially rejected the idea.
Arsenal are keen on Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata but have also monitored Vucinic for some time and enquired about the 30-year-old earlier this month. They were told Juve would only consider a permanent deal and the striker became part of a swap deal with Inter Milan for midfielder Fredy Guarin.
Vucinic was understood to have said goodbye to his team-mates and made preparations to move only for the deal to collapse, leaving the Montenegro international in limbo.
Juventus are now thought to be open to a temporary switch and Arsenal could make a late swoop.
The Gunners have also been linked with a move for Blaise Matuidi, whose contract at Paris St Germain expires in the summer but there would have to be a major change of heart for both the player and his club if a deal is to be completed this month.
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