Arsenal are going to try for a final time to persuade their star playmaker, Mesut Ozil to stay at the club. The German international demanded a wage bill of £300,000 per week. Arsenal’s initial offer of around £235,000 was turned down which lead to a rise in controversies over Ozil’s future.
With Alexis Sanchez most likely heading for the exit door the Gunners would be seriously affected if Mesut Ozil leaves with him on a free transfer at the end of the season or for a meagre fee in January. Both their contracts are set to end after this season, and they refused to sign extensions when offered one in the summer.
With Sanchez turning 29 this month, both the players are currently at the peak of their careers and are hungry for trophies. Even with their hefty wage demands, the duo is not motivated entirely by their compensation. Arsenal’s failure to grab major trophies other than the FA Cup twice within their time with the club has frustrated both Ozil and Sanchez.
Their disappointing exit from the Champions League after an aggregate 10-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the knockout stages along with a drop to the Europa League spot in the Premier League table has not assured Sanchez and Ozil about the club’s competence to win trophies in the near future.
Reports have surfaced that Arsenal have already offered a £275,000 per week deal to the German midfielder but have not received any word from him yet. Ozil might be biding his time right now waiting for the January transfer window to open as clubs will be able to approach him for pre-contract agreements. With no transfer fee required, he might be able to sign a better deal with higher pay.
Ozil is still highly regarded in the books of Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho. Both of them worked together to win the La Liga title in the 2011-12 season and a reunion at Old Trafford is might not be an unlikely possibility. The attacking midfielder mostly played in no. 10 position in Real Madrid under Mourinho. Perhaps he will find himself in a similar role for the Red Devils with Paul Pogba behind him and Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku up front. An eery picture for the rest of Premier League sides to swallow.
According to reports, Barcelona might also be in the running to land the 29-year-old’s services. They can conjure a lucrative deal providing their out-of-favour Turkish midfielder, Arda Turan on an exchange to the Gunners. Arsene Wenger will have to seriously consider the option if the Catalan side does end up approaching them in January.
