Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is preparing a bid for Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler.

The Sunday Express says Wenger, who has now gone eight years without winning a trophy, is sitting on a £70m transfer kitty - and with orders to spend it to help keep some of his critics at bay.

Draxler, 19, who already has four Germany caps, has been watched regularly by Gunners scouts and has also attracted the interest of other top sides including Real Madrid.

Schalke will allow their influential midfielder to leave in the summer for the right price - and that would be around £15m.