Arsenal and Tottenham are reportedly set to go head-to-head in the summer in the pursuit of Schalke 04 midfield maestro Leon Goretzka.
Daily Mirror are claiming that Arsenal and Tottenham are both interested in Schalke 04 midfielder Leon Goretzka. The North London rivals are both in search of additions to their midfield and look set to rival each other on the transfer market for the player, come summer.
Leon Goretzka is a 22-year-old central midfielder plying his trade for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga. The player joined the club from Vfl Bochum in July, 2013 and has since established himself as not just an enticing talent but a formidable presence in the middle of the field.
This season, the 22-year-old has made a total of 31 appearances in all competitions, being one of the first names on the Schalke team sheet, with a decent return of 6 goals and 2 assists to show for his efforts. Keeping the numbers aside, the player is a steady contributor to the buildup of attacks and is a prominent presence in the midfield.
However, Goretzka will have only 12 months left on his Schalke deal at the end of the season. As per the reports, there is interest in the player from the Premier League, with both Arsenal and Tottenham interested in the midfielder.
Tottemham lead Arsenal and Juventus in the race to sign Schalke sensation Leon Goretzka this summer. #COYS (@FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/DIup0OgCGU
— Hotspur Hacker (@HotspurHacker) March 23, 2017
Arsenal could be set to see a mass exodus of senior players in the summer regardless of Arsene Wenger’s future as the Gunners manager. Hence, the club is looking for additions to their squad and a 22-year-old German international could go a long way in rebuilding the squad at Emirates.
Tottenham, on the other hand, are also in search of additions to strengthen their squad further for the next campaign. Also, Moussa Sissoko is likely to leave the club at the end of the season and there could be other shuffles in the midfield as well, opening up space for Goretzka.
Goretzka has already turned down a new contract, which only multiplies his chances of leaving the club. Also, with a deal set to expire in 2018, the player is unlikely to cost a fortune, which could pique the interest of the North London duo even more.
Schalke are placed at ninth on the table and are unlikely to be able to provide European football next campaign, something that both Arsenal and Tottenham will be able to provide.
The player is valued around the €20 million mark, an amount which is more than justified for a 22-year-old full-fledged German international who has proven himself in the Bundesliga over the past few years.
Where he ends up though, if he moves at all, will be something that will be discovered once the summer transfer window draws nearer.
