Wenger confident of signing

Arsene Wenger is "80%" certain of making a
deadline-day signing - but it will not be Schalke's
Julian Draxler.
The Arsenal manager has seen his midfield
options dwindle significantly in recent days
following Mathieu Flamini's red card at
Southampton and injury setbacks for Aaron
Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.
Ramsey will miss up to six more weeks, and
Wenger plans to enter the market with a run of
games against Liverpool (twice), Manchester
United and Bayern Munich in the offing.
But, speaking as the window entered its final few
hours, he again dismissed reports of an imminent
move for £37m-rated Draxler.
"The Draxler situation has been created by the
newspapers, not by me," he said. "You ask me
'what is the situation?' I say nothing is happening
on that front. He will stay at Schalke.
"At the moment we need more midfielders. We
are open-minded, active and look at the
opportunities.
"We still try to bring at least one body in because
we are hit now by the red card of Flamini, the
setback of Ramsey, the fact that Wilshere is not
available, though I hope that will be short-term.
"We are short and I am confident we will bring
someone in today. It is 80-20."
Schalke chief Horst Heldt insists that Draxler is
staying with the club for the rest of the season
and 'probably' beyond.
"I am very sure that Julian will play in the second
half for us - and probably beyond," sporting
director Heldt said.
"We are not interested in letting Julian go and he
has also not come to us with the wish to leave the
club.
"Of course, there is always interest in him and if
someone was to come and make a serious offer
for him, then we would have to deal with that
professionally.
"That applies not only for Julian, but for any other
player."
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