Wolfsburg’s new recruit Xaver Schlager has publicly stated it would be his dream to play for Arsenal one day.
In what has been a dire transfer window so far, Arsenal have received a massive boost from an unlikely source as VfL Wolfsburg’s new signing Xaver Schlager considers the North London giants as his ‘dream club’ – as reported by Mirror.
“As a kid in Austria, everyone dreams of making it abroad, probably as early as the age of seven. The league just is not that attractive. I have not reached a final goal, now comes the next goal. I’ve been a fan of Arsenal since I was a kid, that’s my dream club and it’s my dream to play there,” Schlager told Kicker, as reported by Mirror.
A product of the St. Valentin youth academy in Austria, Schlager joined Wolfsburg earlier this summer, in a €15 million move from RB Salzburg. He was one of the key players for the Austrian outfit last season as they lifted their 13th Austrian league title.
A central midfielder by trade, Schlager made 26 league appearances, scoring five goals and providing two assists. He built a formidable partnership with the likes of Didier Samassekou and Zlatko Junuzovic as Salzburg secured the league title by a considerable margin.
At Wolfsburg, the 21-year-old is expected to add more steel in the midfield department that already boasts the services of talented individuals like Yannick Gerhardt, Maximilian Arnold and Elvis Rexhbecaj. He could provide competition to Rexhbecaj in the two number eight slots, should the newly appointed Oliver Glasner employ a 4-3-3 setup.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Austrian international will be able to integrate into the fast-paced nature of the Bundesliga. And this is coupled with the fierce competition in the Wolfsburg midfield department could make it difficult for Schlager to create an impact in his debut campaign in the German top flight.
Arsenal, however, will be hoping that he does. The Gunners are in dire need of reinforcements in midfield, especially after the departure of Aaron Ramsey. Besides, the unwanted Mohamed Elneny has been linked with a move to West Ham while the likes of Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira have had a mixed campaign last season.
To that end, Schlager, if he manages to succeed in the Bundesliga, could be an exciting option for Unai Emery. His ability to ease his side’s transition coupled with his immense technical quality could enhance Arsenal’s midfield unit. Besides, the youngster is also capable of participating in combination play and help his teammates create more chances in the final third – traits that could make him a tailor-made fit for the Gunners.
Hence, the Gunners will be keeping their eyes peeled on Schlager as he embarks on a new journey with VfL Wolfsburg next season.
Wolfsburg’s new recruit Xaver Schlager has publicly stated it would be his dream to play for Arsenal one day.
In what has been a dire transfer window so far, Arsenal have received a massive boost from an unlikely source as VfL Wolfsburg’s new signing Xaver Schlager considers the North London giants as his ‘dream club’ – as reported by Mirror.
“As a kid in Austria, everyone dreams of making it abroad, probably as early as the age of seven. The league just is not that attractive. I have not reached a final goal, now comes the next goal. I’ve been a fan of Arsenal since I was a kid, that’s my dream club and it’s my dream to play there,” Schlager told Kicker, as reported by Mirror.
A product of the St. Valentin youth academy in Austria, Schlager joined Wolfsburg earlier this summer, in a €15 million move from RB Salzburg. He was one of the key players for the Austrian outfit last season as they lifted their 13th Austrian league title.
A central midfielder by trade, Schlager made 26 league appearances, scoring five goals and providing two assists. He built a formidable partnership with the likes of Didier Samassekou and Zlatko Junuzovic as Salzburg secured the league title by a considerable margin.
At Wolfsburg, the 21-year-old is expected to add more steel in the midfield department that already boasts the services of talented individuals like Yannick Gerhardt, Maximilian Arnold and Elvis Rexhbecaj. He could provide competition to Rexhbecaj in the two number eight slots, should the newly appointed Oliver Glasner employ a 4-3-3 setup.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Austrian international will be able to integrate into the fast-paced nature of the Bundesliga. And this is coupled with the fierce competition in the Wolfsburg midfield department could make it difficult for Schlager to create an impact in his debut campaign in the German top flight.
Arsenal, however, will be hoping that he does. The Gunners are in dire need of reinforcements in midfield, especially after the departure of Aaron Ramsey. Besides, the unwanted Mohamed Elneny has been linked with a move to West Ham while the likes of Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira have had a mixed campaign last season.
To that end, Schlager, if he manages to succeed in the Bundesliga, could be an exciting option for Unai Emery. His ability to ease his side’s transition coupled with his immense technical quality could enhance Arsenal’s midfield unit. Besides, the youngster is also capable of participating in combination play and help his teammates create more chances in the final third – traits that could make him a tailor-made fit for the Gunners.
Hence, the Gunners will be keeping their eyes peeled on Schlager as he embarks on a new journey with VfL Wolfsburg next season.