Spurs join race for Arsenal target Goretzka

There could be a north London tussle looming over Schalke midfielder Leon Goretzka, claims the Sunday Mirror, with the paper reporting Tottenham "have joined Arsenal in the race" to sign the 22-year-old ace.

Apparently Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has had his spies run the rule over Goretzka who, says the Mirror, "has been on the Gunners’ radar for some time".

Tottenham believe the young playmaker has bags of potential and are readying a big money bid after learning that Schalke might be willing to sell. The bad news for both Spurs and Arsenal is that according to German media Goretzka "remains keen on a switch to either Barcelona or Bayern Munich". Spurs, however, hope that their stunning victory over Real Madrid last week will help in their quest to lure players of Goretzka's status to White Hart Lane.

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One reason Arsenal are apparently interested in landing Goretzka is the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Jack Wilshere. The Daily Mirror report that Real Betis are back on the tail of Wilshere and are growing increasingly optimistic they will get their man in the January transfer window. Having been overlooked for England's squad to face Germany this week, the Arsenal midfielder is growing ever more fearful that he might also miss the cut for next summer's World Cup.

Denied regular game time at the Emirates, Wilshere – who has made only two appearances as a substitute in the Premier League this season - is keen to move to a club where he can prove to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate that he is worth a seat on the plane to Russia. The Mirror says the La Liga club "have enquired about the possibility of bringing the England international to Spain", and it is now down to the 25-year-old to decide whether he wants to move abroad or stay warming the Emirates bench.