Arsenal face up to transfer ‘burden’ as Ozil digs heels in

Will Ford
Mesut Ozil Arsenal

Mesut Ozil’s refusal to leave the club in the summer transfer window could have major implications for transfer plans at Arsenal, according to reports.

Ozil signed a three-and-a-half-year extension in February 2018 when Arsenal panickedly threw £350,000 a week at the German to stay in north London.

That deal will expire in the summer of 2021 and, as yet, there are no signs of new terms being offered.

And, according to ESPN, there definitely won’t be a fresh offer from Arsenal with the Gunners hierarchy ‘seeking to offload the midfielder this summer for financial reasons’.

Despite that ‘Ozil is determined to see out the final year of his contract’ but that could have a huge impact on Arsenal’s ‘severely restricted budget’ for the summer transfer window.


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The Gunners are looking at avenues to explore ‘to free up funds to attract new signings and are willing to sell Ozil to rid the club of his £350,000-a-week wage’.

The German was left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad to play Manchester City in their first game back after the Premier League restart, with the Spaniard claiming that Ozil needs “a little bit of time” before he can play for Arsenal again this season.

When asked why Ozil wasn’t ready to play against City, Arteta said on Friday: “A lot has happened to him in the last few weeks and I have to respect the timing of every player that needs sometimes a little bit of time.

“It has been difficult preparation the last two months to get players ready, and again, I am the first one that wants Mesut at the best and I want to put him on the best when he can give his best.”

The ESPN report adds that ‘there are senior figures at the club who view Ozil’s wage as a burden incompatible with the belt-tightening required elsewhere’.

It is understood that Ozil remains committed to the cause and wants to fight for a spot in the first team, while ‘Ozil’s relationship with Arteta remains professional’.