Charles Watts, the Arsenal correspondent for Goal, has been discussing the interest in Mesut Ozil during the summer transfer window on a recent YouTube video.
The 31-year-old was recently left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad registered to take part in the UEFA Europa League after having not appeared for the Gunners so far this season.
The North London club paid £42.3m to bring the German to the Emirates Stadium back in 2013 (as per Transfermarkt) and made him their highest-paid player ever when he was given a contract extension back in January 2018.
Ozil has made it clear he intends to see out his Arsenal contract despite being frozen out but Watts has spoken of some interest in the World Cup winner from the Middle East, here is what he had to say:
“There is interest for Mesut Ozil, there has been interest in him this summer about leaving, certainly from the Middle East.
“Clubs in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been interested in Mesut Ozil, but it is not something as of yet [that] Ozil has decided to pursue, much to the frustration of Arsenal, because they would have obviously loved to have got him out.
“The deal was apparently a pretty tempting one for Arsenal, a good one for Arsenal as well.
“Mesut Ozil has firmly said all along, ‘I am not leaving. I am staying put until the end of my contract.'”
Should Arsenal try and come to an agreement with Ozil with regards to terminating his contract?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
Judging by the journalist’s comments, it appears there was interest in the player this summer but the £10.8m-rated player isn’t ready to walk away from his lucrative Arsenal contract.
Seemingly, it appears as though there is a chance the former Real Madrid star has played his last game for the London-based club despite his current deal having until June 2021 to run.