Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly battling for Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka.
Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka (R) and Bayern Munich’s Thiago Alcantara vie for the ball
According to The Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are challenging Arsenal for the signature of Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka ahead of the January transfer window.
Injury problems for Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama have allowed Harry Winks to step up this season, but manager Mauricio Pochettino may still be keen to bring in another central midfielder.
Links to Everton’s Ross Barkley and Barcelona’s Andre Gomes continue, but The Mirror report that Spurs are now plotting a move for Schalke star Leon Goretzka instead.
Goretzka, 22, joined Schalke from hometown club VfL Bochum in 2013 having emerged as one of the top young talents in German football, and he is now living up to that potential.
The German international midfielder, who has six goals in 12 caps for his country, has hit four goals in just nine games for Schalke this season, and is attracting major interest ahead of the January transfer window.
It’s claimed that, whilst Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Goretzka, North London rivals Tottenham have been scouting Schalke games regularly, with the midfielder believed to be their top target.
Given that Goretzka is out of contract at the end of the season, and can pen a pre-contract agreement to sign for free after he turns 23 in February, Spurs may sense a bargain, either landing him for nothing or pursuing a cut-price deal in January.
However, Arsenal snapped up Goretzka’s former Schalke teammate Sead Kolasinac under similar circumstances last season, and the Gunners may look to reunite the pair in 2018, as a North London battle for Goretzka’s services beckons.
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