Arsenal and Bayern set to fight over Draxler and Kroos

THE January transfer window may be closed, but already the narrative for the summer is starting to take shape, and it appears that Arsenal will be going toe to toe with German giants in the transfer market as well as the Champions League later this month.

And whatever happens in their European battle, it seems inevitable that the pair will end up as rivals for the hand of Schalke winger Julian Draxler this summer. The 20-year-old almost joined the Gunners last month but the deal fell through at the last minute. Now Arsenal and Bayern are expected to beat a path back to Schalke's door once the season is over.

Worryingly for Arsene Wenger, there were reports that Draxler had stalled on the chance to join Arsenal last month because he is hankering after a move to Munich. However, the Daily Express says that Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies has "given Arsenal hope" by rubbishing those claims.

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"I can rule out, 100 per cent, that Julian Draxler wants to go to Bayern," announced Tonnies.

Bayern and Arsenal could also find themselves on collision course over midfielder Toni Kroos this summer, with Manchester United also muscling in on what could turn into a three-way scrap.

The Independent claims that contract talks between Kroos and Bayern Munich have stalled over the 24-year-old's wage demands and now the midfielder appears to have fallen out with manager Pep Guardiola. He reacted angrily to being substituted last week and was left on the bench for Bayern's game at the weekend.

Arsenal are now considering a move for Kroos in the summer, while United, who had been interested in him before signing Juan Mata, could also reprise their interest. The Indie raises the prospect of a full-on summer scramble by suggesting that Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City could also get involved.

They may be celebrating this morning after Chelsea boosted their title hopes with a fine win over Man City, but this could turn out to be the final Premier League campaign for ageing Chelsea stars John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, whose futures will be decided in the spring, according to the Daily Star.

The trio of England stars are all out of contract at the end of the season and the tabloid says that Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is content to let them "sweat on their futures" until then. Lampard signed a one-year extension in May last year but the 35-year-old has no idea whether he'll be required next season. The same goes for Terry and Cole, both 33, and who are allegedly pushing for two-year deals.

A source close to the Russian billionaire told the Star: "Chelsea will talk with them at the end of the season." It's no secret that Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho wants some younger blood in his Blues squad and 20-year-old Southampton left-back Luke Shaw is said to be on his summer wish-list. Such a buy would likely hasten the departure of Cole, while Terry – the only one of the trio to play a part in last night's stunning win at the Etihad - has been linked with a lucrative move to the United Arab Emirates in the past.

Meanwhile up in Manchester, the United squad is also set for a major overhaul. That at least is what departed midfielder Anderson believes, according to Goal.com, with the Brazilian claiming "that lots of players want out" of Old Trafford.

Anderson joined Fiorentina on loan during the January transfer window and now he's shot of David Moyes the South American has firing from the lip. "Manchester United is a huge club," declared Anderson, who arrived in Manchester from Porto seven years ago. "[But] sometimes a footballer wants to leave just to experience a different way to play football and to learn something as well."

And as for the chances of Anderson ever returning to Old Trafford, they appear as slim as United's point tally thus this season. "I thank all Manchester United fans for their love, but I'm here to stay," he said.

Talksport says that Marseille are "set to make a move" for former West Ham defender Razvan Rat, who left the Hammers on deadline day last week just six months after arriving from Shakhtar Donetsk. With just 15 Premier League appearances under his belt, Rat deserted Upton Park with his reputation in tatters, but that doesn't seem to have deterred Marseille. Talksport claim that the French club "hope to conclude a deal in the near future" for the Romanian defender.

Finally, the Mirror reports that Newcastle have rejected an approach from Fenerbache to take striker Papiss Cisse on loan. The Turkish transfer window stayed open until Monday night and the Mirror claims that an offer was made for the £11m-rated Cisse in the morning. But Magpies boss Alan Pardew knocked it back because he believes the club may need Cisse in the coming months, despite the fact he's mislaid his scoring boots of late.