Newcastle United's summer transfer window has thrown up plenty of surprises so far. The recent speculation linking Julian Draxler with a move to St. James' Park shows that there'll be more twists and turns as the window reaches it's pinnacle.
The German international's links to Tyneside have come out of the blue, but his profile is exactly what Eddie Howe and the Magpies have been looking for. PSG have set an asking price in the region of £20-30million according to reports, and the World Cup winner would add some much needed quality in offensive areas.
Draxler came through the youth set-up at Schalke 04 and would become the club's youngest ever Bundesliga debutant at the age of 17 years and 117 days. He would then became the youngest ever player to reach 50 top-flight appearances at the tender age of 19 years and five days, in a 3-0 win over FSV Mainz 05, a game in which he shone.
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The emergence of the young German saw him linked with a number of high profile European club's, as Draxler went from strength to strength. Former Schalke coach Jens Keller labelled him "world class" as the youngster broke through as one of the leading playmakers in German football.
“I just hang up when anybody calls, no matter what language they're talking,” said Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt when asked if Draxler would leave the club back in 2013. “There was huge interest in him two years ago when we were playing in the Champions League, and it has never subsided. In fact, with every good game he plays, Julian shifts even more into the spotlight. That’s what makes him such an attractive proposition, It’s fantastic to have a player with such extraordinary talent here."
However, Schalke would indeed sell their prized asset to VfL Wolfsburg for a reported initial fee of €36 million plus add-ons, signing a five-year deal at the Volkswagen Arena. Draxler would spend just one season at the club with Arsenal and PSG both fighting to sign the German international, but it was the Ligue 1 side who won the race.
Unai Emery, who was then PSG boss, was full of praise for Draxler on his debut for Les Parisiens, scoring PSG's final goal in a 7-0 win over Bastia. "Julian played well," Emery told reporters. "It is important he scored on his debut. That will give him confidence."
He earlier told Eurosport 2: "The most important thing is that the team won. At home, the team has confidence and the ability to play well, which helps results. When we scored the third goal, we continued to press. The players who came on, like Draxler and Angel Di Maria, had the motivation to play well and they scored."
Veteran midfielder Thiago Motta said Draxler had fit in well with his new surroundings and had the ambition to win it all. "He has fit in well," Motta said. "He is a very nice guy. He has joined a team with heightened ambitions.
"He is also naturally ambitious and wants to play in the biggest matches. I am sure he will help us raise our game."
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