Ozil holds talks with Fenerbahce ahead of potential transfer

Mesut Ozil has held talks with Fenerbahce regarding a potential transfer, according to German media outlet Bild via the Daily Mirror. 

The 32-year-old was omitted from Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads earlier this season and is yet to play a minute of competitive football for the Gunners in the 2020/21 campaign.

The Gunners have tried to sell the German playmaker in the last few transfer windows but the player is set to see out his contract at the club. The North London side have struggled to get him off their books due to other clubs being unwilling to take on his exorbitant £350,000 pound-a-week wages in addition to the fact that Ozil is happy in London and unwilling to leave.

His deal with Arsenal will expire at the end of the season at which point he will be able to join another club on a free transfer.

It is understood that the former Real Madrid midfielder would have to take a massive wage cut if he were to join Fenerbahce. The Turkish side would be open to offering him a deal that would see him make £150,000 pounds a week. Any move to Turkey is unlikely to happen in January but could take place in the summer.

Fenerbahce club congress member Murat Zorlu said that the Turkish club were ‘90% certain’ of signing the former Germany international. He told Sport Digitale:

“A source, who’s very well connected to the club has told me that Mesut Ozil is likely to become a Fenerbahce player during the next transfer window. I would say 90 per cent he will join us in one month.”

These words should be taken with a pinch of salt considering Ozil and his agent have both made it clear that the German plans to see out the remainder of his contract in North London.

Ozil’s absence from Arsenal’s team has been a major talking point this season as the club are 15th in the Premier League and struggling to create goalscoring opportunities.

Many are criticising Arteta’s decision to leave the German playmaker out of the side when a player of his profile is exactly what the club seem to be crying out for. Arteta will be able to update his squad list next month and it will be interesting to see if Ozil’s name is included.