Arsenal are confident that Mesut Ozil will sign a new deal with the club, once Arsene Wenger’s future is resolved.
Sources close to the club have told me that they are aware of what it will take to keep the German midfield ace, and they are ready to meet his demands – once Wenger has committed to his new deal, which is also close to being confirmed.
The source said: “The club are confident that Ozil will stay in the long-term.”
Football INDEX Talk – Mesut Ozil – Currently at £2.83, Ozil looks a decent outlay, with his contract situation as it is, he is going to be making more headlines as the summer continues.
Large sections of the Arsenal fan base are unconvinced that 67-year-old Wenger should be given a new deal, but a new contract has been on the table for months – whilst talks continue.
Wenger now looks set to sign and Ozil is set to follow suit, and the club also believe Alexis Sanchez could also do the same.
But Ozil, like Sanchez, has just a year left on his current deal and speculation in recent days has seen him strongly linked with Manchester United – whose odds on landing him were cut.
However, the German insists he loves being with Arsenal, saying over the weekend: “I’m very happy. I have a connection with the club. I love London, it’s great to live here but I can’t say today what will happen in the future. In the summer we’ll definitely talk.”
Ozil makes no secret of his love for working under Wenger and added: “It’s not just important for me but for the whole club,’ he says. ‘It’s important to know if he stays or if he goes.
“We need to think towards next season. He’s very important. In my career I’ve always made decisions not just because of clubs but managers, too. As a footballer, it’s important to have the manager’s trust and believe they can develop you.
“When I went from Madrid to Arsenal, I came for him because I told him at the time he’d be my first option. That was the case. We still have a super understanding today.
“I have his trust, he’s a superb coach. He’s been successful for many years, he’s been here for 20 years and has always manages to get Arsenal to reach the Champions League, making Arsenal a big club. He deserves to be shown respect.”
Ladbrokes reacted to the news that Ozil was linked with United by cutting them to 6/4 to land the former Real Madrid star.
Alex Donohue of Ladbrokes said: “The odds of Ozil reuniting with Mourinho are shortening by the minute, regardless of United’s Champions League prospects.
“If for whatever reason the German snubs Manchester, the rest of the list represents a who’s who of top European clubs.”