Barcelona boss, Ernesto Valverde remains keen on top target, Phillipe Coutinho but the Catalans will consider alternative options if the deal for the Brazilian falls through. The Spanish club is reportedly considering a January bid for Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil. The German playmaker has been linked with the Catalans in the past but Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, which has close contacts with the club, is claiming that the German is their back-up for Coutinho.
However, the Evening Standard reports that there has been no formal contact made between the two clubs so far. The Catalans are yet to approach the Londoners with regards to a possible transfer of Mesut Ozil.
Barcelona feel that Mesut Ozil has all the qualities required to compliment Andres Iniesta in the midfield and are attracted at the proposition of landing the German playmaker on the cheap. The 25-year-old midfielder is in the final year of his contract at Arsenal and has refused to put pen to paper on a new deal so far, which would see him double his wages, to more than £250,000 a week.
The former SV Werder Bremen player is free to talk to clubs come January. Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger stated earlier this week that the futures of both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will be resolved next month.
Phillipe Coutinho remains the first choice transfer-target for Barcelona and a deal worth in the region of £130million is being mooted. Yet, an alternative option of signing Mesut Ozil would see the Catalans spend only a fraction of that figure in January or for no fee at all next summer when the German becomes a free agent.
Another reason that Mesut Ozil makes an attractive proposition for the Catalans is that the player will be available to play in the Champions League, with Arsenal currently involved in the Europa League. Not having a cup-tied player in the squad will enhance the Catalans’ chances of performing well in the Champions League as well.
The German international has made 170 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 33 goals and making 59 assists. Comparatively, Phillipe Coutinho has made 190 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 46 goals and making 40 assists.
Going by the stats, it’s clear that the Brazilian is more of a goal-threat than the German and has an added advantage of being four years younger. But the Arsenal man is a better playmaker than Coutinho.
So it seems like Mesut Ozil may be an ideal short-term fix for the Catalans while Phillipe Coutinho could be an asset for quite a number of years. Who do you think is a better fit or Arsenal?
