Arsenal are willing to listen to offers for star midfielder Mesut Ozil in the next summer if the German does not lower his huge wage demands. Ozil has 18 months remaining on his current deal but the club is still hopeful of reaching an agreement.
Alexis Sanchez is also in his last 18 months at the Emirates Stadium and has demanded a wage hike. While a host of clubs is monitoring the duo’s situation, it is believed that Ozil is more expendable than the Chilean forward.
As reported earlier, Ozil and Sanchez want £20million-a-year, £384,000-a-week package, to sign a contract extension with the Gunners. However, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged them not to let money decide their futures. The pair could enter the final 12 months of their contract if no compromise is reached.
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According to the Telegraph, it is understood that if Ozil does not put pen to paper, Wenger would be reluctantly listening to any substantial offers. Sanchez has to stay at all costs. It appears that Wenger is of the opinion that replacing Ozil will be easier than replacing Sanchez.
Last week, Ozil had hinted at a return to former side Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich could be another viable option. The 28-year-old insisted that he was content at Arsenal but when asked on a possible return to Spain he had smiled and said, “You never know.”
He had added, “I am very happy playing for such a big club like Arsenal, which has amazing fans and they also encourage me a lot. I am playing very well in London, but in football you never know. We’ll see what happens in the future.”
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Neither Sanchez nor Ozil would be prepared to sign a deal that is less than the other. Under the current circumstances, Ozil is the highest earner at the London club on £140,000-a-week, £10,000 more than Sanchez. Arsenal, reportedly, can afford a £15m-a-year, £288,000-a-week, to one of them. However, it is unlikely that both would be offered big contracts.
Ozil was Arsenal’s best performer last season as he assisted 19 goals and scored six in the league. This season he has already scored 4 goals and notched up 2 assists in 12 appearances. He is vital to the Gunners title hopes this season and it would be a mammoth task to replace him.
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