Why would Ozil and Sanchez sign new deals when Manchester big guns are calling?
IT is not beyond the bounds of possibility, or probability, that Arsenal’s two best players could start next season with Manchester City and Manchester United respectively.
City’s interest in Alexis Sanchez is a matter of record, United’s interest in Mesut Ozil is far less established but Jose Mourinho is a registered fan.
Next summer, both could depart to a couple of Arsenal’s immediate rivals for free.
The blame does not just lie with Arsene Wenger, the scenario is a damning indictment of the entire executive structure at Arsenal.
Asked about Ozil’s contract situation last week, Wenger winged it.
“Contract talks have slowed down a little bit since August 31 because we need a little breather and to focus on the competition but we will slowly get back into that.”
A little breather? Considering Ozil will be free to negotiate with European clubs in just over three months’ time, a little breather hardly seems the best tactic. Slowly get back into that? His contract runs out at the end of THIS season.
The chances of Ozil or Sanchez signing new deals are slim and none.
And as many people have claimed to have said, slim is packing his bags and leaving town.
Why would they commit to new contracts?
Sanchez is off, that is for sure. On the grounds that elite clubs might not be overly keen, many seem to think Ozil’s departure is less of a certainty.
But if you believe big clubs will not be interested in a free transfer Ozil, you are very much mistaken.
Links with United and Mourinho might be purely mischievous but it would make sense on several levels. A five-time German Player of the Year and World Cup winner costing nothing? Tick. A player with the most Premier League assists over the last four seasons costing nothing? Tick. A player with the most passes in the final third across all five major European leagues costing nothing? Tick. You could go on. And Mourinho, having worked with Ozil at Real Madrid, loves him. No one instils a greater work ethic than Mourinho yet he acknowledges Ozil is a player to be indulged. “If you are expecting Ozil to be super-aggressive and running miles and miles, side to side, and to show great enthusiasm and aggression… this is not Mesut. “If you are waiting for somebody who every time he touches the ball, the ball smiles and every time he makes the pass, the ball goes in the right direction with the right speed and intensity… this is Mesut.” Jose gets a footballer. He also has the likes of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba in his ranks. Tracking back would not be Ozil’s brief. From Ozil’s point of view, Pogba and Matic or Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey?
And to take a player from Wenger, without charge, and get more out of him than the Arsenal manager did, would appeal to Mourinho’s sense of mischief.
It could be argued, with some justification, that Ozil and Sanchez have been part of what many perceive to be a problem at the Emirates.
It could be argued, with some justification, that their respective attitudes have been centred mainly around themselves rather than the team.
But they are two fine talents. As the City and United of Manchester could well find out next season.