BARCELONA TO PIP UNITED FOR OZIL
Catalans ready to offer Arsenal midfielder RM1.9 million a week
LONDON expire in the summer meaning the midfielder is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from Jan 1.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed recently that the club would consider selling Ozil in January to avoid losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
And the Mirror reported that Barcelona are willing to offer Ozil a £350,000-a-week wage packet to bring him to the Nou Camp.
United boss Jose Mourinho remains keen on Ozil, who he managed during their spell together at Real Madrid, but Barcelona have the advantage of being able to offer the German a pre-contract agreement in the new year.
When asked if Ozil had already agreed a move to Barcelona on Friday, Wenger responded saying: “No. What kind of control can I have over that?
“All these people have agents who can talk to anybody. That doesn’t disturb people, that happens all through their career.”
Inter Milan are also interested in a move for Ozil and Arsenal are keen to recoup some of the £42.5 million they spent on him in the summer of 2013.
Inter chief Erick Thohir admitted Ozil was a transfer target for his club and the Italians are considering a bid for him during the January transfer window.
Arsenal face losing both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in the summer after the star duo enter the final seven months of their contracts at the Emirates.
Sanchez remains a target for both Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain and Arsenal are braced to receive offers in January for the Chilean.
Both Sanchez and Ozil impressed in Arsenal’s last league fixture, the 2-0 north London derby victory over Tottenham.
Arsenal were beaten 1-0 in Cologne on Thursday in the Europa League but will be hoping to bounce back when they turn their attentions back to the Premier League for the trip to Burnley today.
Last weekend’s win left Arsenal in sixth place, a point behind fourth-placed Tottenham with goal difference alone keeping the Gunners above Burnley.
Wenger has been impressed by Sean Dyche’s side this season and is well aware of the test that lies ahead for his team.
“They are the surprise package because before the season if you asked 100 people if Burnley would have 22 points at this stage of the season, 90 would have said no — and the 10 others would have been Burnley supporters,” he said.
“They have won games with 25 per cent or 30 per cent possession, that means they are calm, they know what to do and they are patient with that killing instinct of a snake,” Wenger added. “They put you to their face and then they bite you.” Agencies