German midfielder Julian Draxler maintains he will stay at Schalke next season having turned down the chance to join Arsenal in January.

The 20-year-old was a player heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium but a reported £25 million deal failed to materialise.

Draxler confirmed he intended to remain in the Bundesliga again next term.

“In January there was the offer of Arsenal but I decided to stay. I will do the same this summer. I want to play one year more in Schalke,” said Draxler who is currently training with the German national  team in Brazil.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger rejected the chance to sign back former captain Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona, with the midfielder instead joining Chelsea, but is expected to strengthen his squad after the World Cup.

The agent of Italy forward Mario Balotelli refused to play down talk of a potential switch from AC Milan for the former Manchester City man, while Spain international Santi Cazorla has been quoted as saying he would make a decision on his future when back from the World Cup in Brazil, amid interest from Atletico Madrid.