Arsenal are ready to sell Mesut Ozil for £30million in January and replace him with goal-a-game attacker Nabil Fekir, according to the Daily Star.
The newspaper claim that a deal worth more than £60million for the France international is “almost done” amid confidence among the Emirates Stadium hierarchy he will sign.
The Daily Star report that Fekir’s imminent arrival will pave the way for contract rebels Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to leave in the winter window.
It is said that Arsenal are ready to be willing to accept just £30million for Ozil rather than let him leave for nothing at the end of the season.
Good move for Arsenal?
Fekir, 24, is five years younger than Ozil and is a player with his best years ahead of him rather than behind. The Frenchman has jaw-dropping stats this season – 11 goals from 11 Ligue 1 matches – and the kind which fellow playmaker Ozil could only dream of. There is a clear sense that the Gunners need to move on from the Ozil-Sanchez era, which has promised much but delivered little. The recent defeat to Manchester City was proof, if anymore were needed, that Ozil can’t cut it against the best teams in the biggest matches. Arsene Wenger needs to find someone who can, and Fekir would be a great start.
This Is Futbol rating 8/10
Likely to happen?
Marquee January deals are few and far between, but do happen when there is a willingness on all sides to get the deal done, as Dimitri Payet showed when quitting West Ham last winter. Few Gooners would lament if Ozil was to go in January for a similar price.
This Is Futbol rating 5/10