Arsenal Transfer News: Schalke Winger To Replace Walcott?
German international midfielder Lewis Holtby suggested as possible replacement for English winger.
Daily Mirror, Arsenal will look to bring in half-English, half-German midfielder Lewis Holtby from Schalke if England forward Theo Walcott chooses to leave the club in the current window rather than commit his future to the club. Walcott has just a year remaining on his current contract, and would command a fee of around £15m, with Liverpool said to be interested. Holtby, who has an English father, is currently in a similar situation at Schalke as Walcott is at Arsenal, heading into the last year of his contract and attracting interest from elsewhere as he delays signing a new deal. But he does seem keen on staying at the club, as long as he is given the opportunity to play first-team football, as he said on Monday:
I like it at Schalke. I will give my best in training and the manager will decide if I am a first team player.The 21-year-old player has already made two appearances for Germany, having previously played at both Under-19 and Under-21 levels, but was not included in the Euro 2012 squad. Holtby made his senior breakthrough at Aachen, before moving to Schalke in 2009, from where he was loaned out to both Bochum and Mainz for first-team and development opportunities. With just a year left on his current deal, he would likely be available for a cut-price offer, with Schalke wary of losing him for nothing next summer, as Arsenal are with Walcott. Though he lacks the blistering pace of Walcott, he does possess excellent ball control and has the skills to beat his man, as well as the vision to pick out killer passes in and around the box, which will be key to Arsenal taking advantage of new signings Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski. Though chiefly known as a right-sided winger, he can also play on either flank as well as through the middle and would boost Arsene Wenger's options should Walcott decide his future lies elsewhere. Here's a look at exactly what Holtby can offer: http://youtu.be/59dLmSrL6QY So, Arsenal fans - would you be happy with Holtby heading to Arsenal? Share your thoughts below...