According to Washington Post’s Steven Goff, DC United are keen on securing the services of Mesut Ozil. It is believed that the MLS outfit had a representative in London on Tuesday for a meeting with players and agents that included the Arsenal playmaker. However, DC United won’t likely be able to sign Ozil in this January transfer window and will have to wait until January 2021 to get him.
Is Ozil making any progress at Arsenal?
Ozil has had a difficult time at Arsenal over the past couple of years. The German has divided critics with his performances while he has also been involved in certain political drama with the German national team as well as China. He was also attacked by carjackers earlier in the season.
However, as far as his current performances are concerned, Ozil has done a pretty good job following the appointment of Mikel Arteta. The former Arsenal midfielder has utilised him in the number ten role, where Ozil has been crucial in opening up spaces and creating numerous chances in the final third.
Ozil’s good form has even restricted Dani Ceballos from finding his way back to the Arsenal first-team. And after being a subject of a host of criticism earlier in the game, it is fair to say that the playmaker has done an excellent job of reclaiming the trust of his fans this season.
Should Arsenal get rid of him?
The biggest issue regarding the prolonged stay of Ozil is his stupendous wage. The playmaker reportedly earns £350k a week, which is considerably higher than any other star at the North London club. It is also a reason why Arsenal have struggled to fund a move for a top-class individual for the past two transfer windows.
Therefore, Ozil’s proposed departure to DC United could make sense. It would allow the Gunners to add some financial stability, ultimately enabling them to sign star players in the market. It could also pave the way for youngsters like Joe Willock, who has shown a lot of promise.
Speaking of age, it is fair to point out that Ozil is slowly nearing the final stage of his career. He is currently 31 and has two or three years at best before he starts to decline further. Hence, it is indeed a good idea for Arsenal to offload the playmaker, but they also need to do it within next summer, when Arteta is expected to undergo a major squad overhaul.
