Arsenal Transfer News: Julian Draxler Approached by Everton, Top Gunners Rumours

Everton have reportedly made a shock approach for Arsenal target Julian Draxler after the Germany international recently admitted he wants to leave Wolfsburg.

Per Jack Pitt-Brooke in The Independent, the Toffees have made the "first move" for Draxler, 22, and have opened talks with Wolfsburg for the winger, who has a release clause of €75 million (£63 million). However, the Bundesliga club have insisted he is going nowhere.

Draxler told Bild that he requested a move away from Wolfsburg after his international duties with Germany at Euro 2016 finished last month, per Pitt-Brooke.

He said: "I have expressed myself clearly to [coach] Dieter Hecking that after the Euros I want to leave Wolfsburg. We had a verbal agreement when I joined in August 2015 that I could leave the club if the possibility arose. It was always clear between all parties that I would like to go to a top international club if the chance came."

Per Pitt-Brooke, Arsenal and Italian champions Juventus have both been linked with Draxler in the past, but it is "unclear" whether Gunners manager Arsene Wenger would sanction a £63 million move for the winger when he already has Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in his squad.

Given Draxler's stated aim to join a "top" club, Arsenal would be a legitimate destination given their UEFA Champions League and Premier League status.

Per Sky Germany (via Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol), the former Schalke 04 man would prefer a move to the Emirates Stadium over a switch to Juventus:

Indeed, despite Everton moving fast to lodge their interest, it seems highly unlikely that Draxler would be open to a move to Goodison Park.

He has clearly expressed his interest to make a step up in quality and, though likely to improve under new manager Ronald Koeman, Everton are a side comparable to Wolfsburg in a European context. 

Draxler only moved to Wolfsburg from Schalke last summer—for a reported fee of €35 million (£25.5 million) on a five-year deal.

But, clearly, he is no longer satisfied playing for a club that aren't in the Champions League, having proved in last year's tournament that he can perform against the very best, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

Draxler arguably has the ability to make the grade at any club in Europe, but as a predominantly left winger—Sanchez's preferred role and a position in which Ozil can also operate—he would provide a headache for Wenger should Arsenal sign him up.

The various links to Draxler may prove purely academic for now, though, as Wolfsburg are insistent that they will not let him leave, per Bleacher Report UK:

If he continues to agitate for a move, the Bundesliga side may be prepared to negotiate and Arsenal would be left with a decision to make as to whether they should go in for the hugely talented youngster.