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Arsenal: Leon Goretzka remains sneaky summer transfer trophy

By Josh Sippie

Schalke's midfielder Leon Goretzka celebrates scoring the 2-1 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 v Moenchengladbach in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on March 18, 2016. / AFP / PATRIK STOLLARZ / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Schalke's midfielder Leon Goretzka celebrates scoring the 2-1 goal during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Schalke 04 v Moenchengladbach in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on March 18, 2016. / AFP / PATRIK STOLLARZ / RESTRICTIONS: DURING MATCH TIME: DFL RULES TO LIMIT THE ONLINE USAGE TO 15 PICTURES PER MATCH AND FORBID IMAGE SEQUENCES TO SIMULATE VIDEO. == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE == FOR FURTHER QUERIES PLEASE CONTACT DFL DIRECTLY AT 49 69 650050 (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal absolutely need help this summer but may find it tough without Champions League football. Leon Goretzka may become the trophy of the summer.

Arsenal has already reportedly filched one rising talent from the youth factor Schalke 04. Sead Kolasinac should be coming over on a free come July and that is a great step in the right direction, especially if Champions League football evades the Gunners this year.

It would severely limit the number of players they could seriously pursue and it would force Wenger to get sneaky, potentially spend more, and necessitate exploring every possible option out there.

Leon Goretzka is right on the fence. He is such a talented young midfielder that is going to be looking for that next step in his career. His next step is going to be his biggest step in his rise to stardom. Which makes him perfect for Arsenal’s plight.

Without Champions League play to lure the best in the world, the Gunners will have to locate talented individuals on the brink of being some of the best in the world, who are hungry to lift their new team.

Again, look no further than Goretzka. The German has only played 80 total minutes in the Champions League, so missing out again (for the third straight year) would not be a deal breaker. If anything, it could help both parties involved.

This could actually be a fantastic opportunity to recenter the club around individuals who are hungry for more. Because clearly many of the current stock at Arsenal aren’t always in the business of striving for more, as they have become too complacent with who they are and how secure their job is.

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Players like Kolasinac and Goretzka are that next wave of hungry players looking for a step up. They are on the cusp of becoming something special and they need that big-time club to facilitate their next step.

That renewed hunger, combined with the talented players that the Gunners do currently have, could become a quick recipe for renewed success.

Goretzka is an everything midfielder. He does it all, he has the size and athleticism to do it all, and it’s just a matter of time before he proves himself to be one of the best at doing it all. Arsenal can’t rely on landing universal names like James Rodriguez, but even if they could, you still run the risk of another bottoming out like we are seeing with Mesut Ozil.

Reports indicate that Goretzka is still not looking to negotiate a new contract with the German outfit, as he seems prepared to let his contract run its course in 2018.

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It’s time to take a new approach. Kolasinac is a great indication that Wenger may be thinking the same, but Goretzka would put it over the top. Those two Schalke products alone would be a fantastic foundation to a crucial summer.

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