Arsenal forward Podolski plays down Draxler swap deal

While the 28-year-old spoke in glowing terms about his young compatriot and long-term Gunners target, he played down reports he would move to Schalke in exchange

Arsenal attacker Lukas Podolski has dismissed reports of being involved in a swap deal for Schalke's Julian Draxler, though admits a player of his class will undoubtedly attract the interest of a side like the Gunners.

The north London club dispatched a team to negotiate a deal for the 20-year-old Germany international during the final week of the January transfer window, though the Bundesliga outfit blocked the transfer and refused to budge from their £37.2 million valuation.

Podolski is a big fan of Draxler, who has one goal in 17 league appearances this season, though he rejected suggestions he could be on his way to Gelsenkirchen in exchange for his young compatriot.

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“Every top player is interesting for Arsenal, Draxler is definitely one of them,” the 28-year-old, capped 111 times for Germany, told Bild.

“But what the management are planning, I cannot say. An exchange deal of Podolski for Draxler has has been described in some media but it was never an issue. I have contact with Julian, he's a good boy. But about a switch [to Arsenal] we have not yet spoken.”

Podolski and Arsenal take on reigning German and European champions Bayern Munich on Tuesday night in the Champions League and, buoyed by victory at the Allianz Arena last season, is hopeful of overturning a two-goal deficit.

“It is not easy, especially not after the 0-2 in the first leg. They are arguably the best club team in the world,” the former Bayern and FC Koln forward continued.

“But the first 15 minutes of the first leg (when Mesut Ozil missed a penalty) showed that they can be stopped. We need to put everything into the game, go in with the right aggressiveness and then score.”