Arsenal Transfer News: Max Meyer Reportedly Keen on Joining the Gunners

Max Meyer is reportedly keen on joining Arsenal this summer regardless of the uncertainty surrounding manager Arsene Wenger.

German publication Bild said Meyer wants to join the Gunners "despite the fact that Arsene Wenger's side are 'no longer in the premier class' coupled with speculation surrounding the Frenchman's future as the club remains an attractive prospect" (h/t Football.London's Tashan Deniran-Alleyne).

Not being in the "premier class" could refer to Arsenal being unlikely to feature in the UEFA Champions League next season. The Gunners are sixth in the Premier League and 13 points shy of the top four.

Only winning the UEFA Europa League, a tournament also featuring Atletico Madrid, RB Leipzig and Lazio, would see the Gunners rejoin Europe's best in 2018.

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Missing out on the riches on offer in the Champions League would likely force the north London club to shop more selectively in the transfer market.

It means Meyer is an ideal target since he's set to be available on for free in the summer after rejecting a second contract offer from Schalke in February, according to another report from Bild (h/t Sport Witness).

Arsenal have been linked with the 22-year-old for a while. The Daily Star's David Woods reported in February how Wenger is already trying to beat Liverpool, AC Milan and Bayern Munich to a deal.

In late March, Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph said signing Meyer is under consideration at the Emirates Stadium as doubts persist over the futures of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla.

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Ramsey's contract is up in 2019, while Cazorla has been out injured since October 2016. However, Wilshere's situation is more pressing.

The England international is out of contract this summer and could reject a new deal that would pay him £80,000 weekly, per the Guardian's David Hytner.

Losing Wilshere, who also has a lengthy injury history, would create room for another technically astute midfielder in Wenger's squad. Meyer would meet those requirements thanks to his composure and vision on the ball, as well as his energy and tenacity off it.

Those skills have allowed him to be used in a variety of positions for Schalke, everywhere from a No. 10 to a holding role.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

The fact Meyer isn't weighing Wenger's future as part of his decision could also be a bonus for the Gunners. Wenger's contract will expire in 2019, but the man who has been in charge of Arsenal since 1996 has been under increasing pressure to quit from disgruntled supporters unhappy about the club's now-14-year wait to win the Premier League title.

Even former chairman Peter Hill-Wood believes the Frenchman "has outstayed his welcome," per another report from Woods. Meanwhile, John Cross of the Daily Mirror named AS Monaco's Leonardo Jardim and former Gunner Mikel Arteta among the candidates the club has considered as replacements.

If Wenger does move on ahead of schedule, he would leave behind a squad in need of a rebuild in midfield, among other areas.

Snapping up Meyer and letting him combine with fellow Germany international Mesut Ozil would be a great way to accelerate the process.