Gunners ready to let Ozil leave the Emirates
Mesut Ozil’s seven-and-a-half-year stay at Arsenal is set to end after the two parties reached an agreement in principle to release him from his contract.
The 32- year- old has not played for the Gunners since March and his £ 350,000- a- week deal was set to expire at the end of the current season.
It is understood, however, that both parties have all-but agreed to tear up the final months of his contract.
Ozil had been expected to leave in the January transfer window and would be able to sign for another club as a free agent should the final few details be ironed out smoothly.
Major League Soccer’s DC United had been strongly linked with a move for the former Germany international, but Fenerbahce are now believed to be leading the race to sign Ozil.
Having started the first 10 games under Mikel Arteta following his appointment in December 2019, Ozil has not featured since a 1- 0 win over West Ham before the coronavirus pandemic saw football grind to a halt.
He was omitted from Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads, with Arteta and technical director Edu insisting the decision to do so was down to footballing reasons.
Ozil was criticised in some quarters when he refused to take a pay-cut during the summer, with no football being played and Arsenal looking to balance the books.
He had signed his current deal in January 2018 to become the highestpaid player in the club’s history but now looks set to depart on a free.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is devoting his full attention to beating Crystal Palace after two seasons of struggles against Roy Hodgson’s side.
City are in good form ahead of Palace’s visit to the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday having gone 14 games unbeaten in all competitions.
They have also won their last four in the league to move into title contention but Guardiola is well aware of how Palace can throw a spanner in the works.
Palace claimed a stunning 3-2 victory over City at the Etihad in December 2018 and shared a dramatic 2-2 draw in their last game there 12 months ago.
Guardiola said: “In my head, it’s just Crystal Palace.
“We were not able to beat them at home in the last two seasons. This is the only target that we have.”