Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint Germain, pulled off a transfer coup by signing Germany international and Wolfsburg winger Julian Draxler, for £32million. In doing so, the French side successfully beat long-term Premier League suitors of the 23-year-old – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham to his services. But does this in anyway mean a loss for the these clubs?
Draxler without mincing words is a great player, one capable of adding a lot to any team in the world. Since catching the attention of world during his breakthrough seasons at Schalke 04 and with the German national team, many top clubs have continually shown interest in the youngster who has long deserved a big move.
The ability of the German wides-man to play in every role across the front-line has also been an added advantage. Despite primarily being a left-winger, Draxler will comfortably turn out brilliant performances on the right wing, through the middle and even as a makeshift centre-forward. Such versatility, without having to struggle with quality at any role is rare, and PSG will now enjoy it to the fullest.
However, neither Liverpool nor Tottenham have suffered any big loss for missing out on one of their key targets, as they both have enough within their starting XI’s to cater for their attacking needs.
Liverpool have Mane and Coutinho as their main wingers, and while Draxler will come handy at such a time when the Brazilian is out injured and the Senegalese set to link up with the west African nation ahead of January’s AFCON, he wouldn’t have much use when they are both available, and he is sure going to have to settle for a bit-part role.
That wouldn’t go down well with Draxler, and it is one of the reasons he wouldn’t have favored a move to Liverpool in the first place. He wouldn’t be guaranteed of a starting role, while that is very certain at the Parc des Princes.
Same scenario will most likely play out at the White Hart Lane, where even neither Son nor Sissoko are starters when Eriksen and Lamela are fit and available for selection. Draxler still has a chance of breaking into Tottenham’s first team though, but it’s a gamble that might not pay off in the end for the youngster.
The only way Liverpool and Tottenham might have considered to have lost is the fact that they won’t be able to call upon such talented forward from their bench when they need a quality option most. The Premier League is getting much more tougher, and European engagements from next season will mean they would be needing much more depth in their ranks to compete at all fronts.
However, Draxler is too good to remain on their benches, and they currently have no spot for him in their respective starting XI’s. PSG do, and it’s why the move is the best for the player. And besides, the youngster isn’t that perennial game winner both clubs are in dire need of right now, though he has all the potentials to be one in the not-too-distant future.
Only Arsenal can count Draxler’s move to PSG as a loss, not Liverpool or Tottenham. Other than Sanchez, the gunners don’t have any direct threat in the wings. No offence to players like Walcott and Ox, but Draxler is a level ahead of both these players in most of the attacking attributes. Also the fact that they were interested in him for so long adds more salt to the injury.
Draxler remains a fine player, and if he becomes a world beater soon, then, all these 3 clubs could wish they had pursued a more keen interest in him. However, it is at PSG, where he is going to play regularly that he has the chance to, not at a place where he has to fight for a starting shirt.