Manchester United Transfer Rumors: Old Trafford Execs Eyeing Julian Draxler While Arsenal, Bayern Munich Remain Interested

Though the future of first-year manager David Moyes remains in doubt, Manchester United higher-ups continue to explore numerous ways for improving the club’s roster. Just a season removed from another Premier League championship, the Red Devils find themselves seventh in the twenty-team league and significantly distanced from the top teams in the table. While the defending champs remain fixated on finishing in the top four in order to solidify a place at next season’s UEFA Champions League tournament, United’s chances for accomplishing that feat are slim considering they currently sit 12 points behind fourth place Manchester City.

Hoping to take a positive step toward supremacy once again, Old Trafford executives are expected to make a strong push to acquire current Schalke 04 attacking midfielder Julian Draxler. Still looking to upgrade the midfield position even after landing former Chelsea star Juan Mata during the recent winter transfer period, United leaders have a long list of summer targets and the 20-year-old Schalke star sits as one of the main talents. While the Red Devils hope to be the eventual destination for the rising star, David Moyes -- should he make it through to next season -- understands that stiff financial competition will come from Premier League rival Arsenal and German Bundesliga power Bayern Munich, the two likeliest destinations should Man U fail to sign Draxler.

The Gladbeck, Germany native made his senior debut with Schalke in 2011 and through 93 domestic league appearances, Draxler has recorded 14 goals to further solidify himself as one of the top growing midfielders in the game. A nagging knee injury has dropped his production this season -- with Draxler notching just one goal and handing out six assists in 18 appearances -- but despite the problems, the German star understands that the upcoming summer period will be crucial for his developing career. Citing Arsenal as a possible destination, the Schalke star said recently that he’ll explore the best options moving forward.

“I've said every summer I have to look what is the best for me and I will do in the summer again and we will see what happens,” he said. I have always said English teams are very big clubs and Arsenal is of course one of them. Of course I sometimes speak to Mesut [Ozil] or Per [Mertesacker] about the team, about the club, and they always have good words and they tell me nice things. You never know what happens in the summer but Arsenal is a very, very nice team. They always have very young players, they play attractive football and that's what I like. But I better not speak too much about it because tomorrow I can read that I like to play for Arsenal. I think the people at Schalke would not like to hear that.”