Rumour Mongering: Reds and Arsenal Battle for Draxler

Liverpool and Arsenal have both been linked with moves for Julian Draxler in the past, with Arsenal failing to agree terms and seeing a deal for him collapse back in 2014 and the player turning down a move to Anfield in January of this year.

That makes them easy names for L’Equippe to drop this week, with the French outlet claiming both have been in touch with Paris Saint-Germain and are working to win his signature in January—but that they have accepted he would be a loan signing.

Neither team would likely turn Draxler down, of course, but as a loan deal it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for either side, both of whom have solid attacking options—especially Liverpool now that everyone is fit or nearing full fitness.

Even with Draxler getting minutes in midfield for PSG this month as a way of finding space for him following the summer signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, he doesn’t look like a player who fits a pressing need for either English club.

At least not if he’s arriving on loan with neither PSG nor the player interested in a permanent deal—or in there being an option in the loan deal to make things permanent. If that changed, then it would be far easier to buy the idea both clubs wanted him.

With Liverpool likely to lose Philippe Coutinho next summer and Alexis Sanchez’ contract running down at Arsenal, both clubs would see Draxler as a valuable signing—for next year. A loan deal without a purchase option is far less intersting.

In fact, as long as that’s all it is that L’Equippe are claiming Arsenal and Liverpool are actually fighting over in this case, it’s probably safe to assume they aren’t actually and that L’Equippe are just engaged in baseless rumour mongering.