Overcoming Italy in a tense and very entertaining penalty shootout for neutrals, Germany will now face France in the Euro 2016 semi-final on Thursday evening at the Stade Vélodrome.
Rarely played during the group stages, one man who stood out in his country’s demolition of Slovakia was Julian Draxler, currently contracted to Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga.
Bought for around £30m last season from Schalke, it’s been widely reported the player is looking for a way out after his side finished eighth in the German league last season.
The problem with all of this is the reticence from those in charge to see one of their most expensive players leave again, especially with Borussia Dortmund hot on the trail of André Schürrle.
France Football on Tuesday have a look at his situation, and estimate the Bundesliga side wouldn’t want to see him leave for anything less than £50m; a fee few would be willing to pay.
The French magazine state Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested by him, as well as Juventus, who came close to prising him away from Schalke last season before Wolfsburg stepped in.
Having already bought a winger in soon-to-be-announced Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and with strong options on the left in Memphis Depay and Anthony Martial, it seems unlikely José Mourinho would make a move for him without at least selling the Dutchman.
As for the other two, Arsenal seem happy enough with Özil as a wide playmaker on that left-hand side, while Liverpool have a certain Philippe Coutinho down the left who doesn’t seem to be going anywhere this summer.
