Julian Draxler comes clean on Leeds links as Bielsa is given future hope

James Marshment 07 Oct 2020 8:59 AM

Julian Draxler has admitted he contemplated moving to the Premier League this summer amid reported interest from Leeds United.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side enjoyed a productive summer of spending. The likes of Rodrigo Moreno, Robin Koch and Diego Llorente all arrived. They eventually completed their near £75m spending when Brazilian winger Raphinha joined on deadline day.

Earlier in the window though, Leeds were linked with PSG playmaker Draxler.

As per reports in France, ambitious chairman Andrea Raddrizzani attempted to bring the 26-year-old to Elland Road.

The West Yorkshire side have contacted the player, but reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi claimed “Draxler has not been receptive in their interest so far”.

However, Draxler has now come clean on the links and admits a move to the Premier League did cross his mind.

Draxler, a £38m signing from Wolfsburg in January 2017, has fallen down the pecking order under Thomas Tuchel. In fact, he featured in just 11 Ligue 1 matches and only played a bit-part role during their march to the Champions League final.

Assessing a season to forget on a personal level, Draxler says perhaps a change of scene would do him good.

“Last season didn’t go well at all,” Draxler told Bild. “Not on a sporting level and also due to my injuries. Then the season ended due to coronavirus. It was definitely a season to forget for me.”

Draxler admitted he considered a move away but could not find a situation that suited him.

“In the summer I thought about trying to do something else,” Draxler said. “Due to the coronavirus situation, it was ultimately difficult to find a club where I would have said: ‘Everything fits well together, I definitely want to [come here]’.

“That was not the case, so I decided that I would not dare to take a quick shot and keep looking for my chance at Paris.”

Draxler gives Leeds future hope

Draxler admits he remains open to the possibility of a future switch, amid reported interest from Leeds.

With his contract due to expire in June 2021, he will be able to negotiate terms with overseas suitors from January 1. That date is now just 86 days away!

When asked if he was willing to take a lower salary to make a move happen, Draxler added: “Definitely. The top priority is not to sign a contract with the same salary. The overall package just has to be right.

“That I can imagine playing in the club, that good football is played there and that I play an important role. That would be the great sense of a change at this point, one year before the European Championship.

“Next year things will look easier when I’m free and another club doesn’t have to negotiate a transfer with Paris.”

Draxler insists he was convinced to stay for now after clear-the-air talks with Tuchel.

He said: “I had a good conversation with Thomas Tuchel. I felt then that I still had the chance to be deployed and that I was definitely not written off.”

Julian Draxler