There could be some musical transfer chairs in the summer, with reports that Atletico Madrid have identified Mesut Ozil as the man to replace Saul Niguez, who is expected to sign for Manchester United.
United boss Jose Mourinho is said to be a long-term admirer of Niguez - and the feeling is apparently mutual, reports the Daily Star.
According to the newspaper, the 22-year-old Spanish attacking playmaker is “open to a switch to Old Trafford if Atletico and United can agree a deal”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Latest Videos FromThe Week
It was rumoured earlier this year that Mourinho was keen to organise a reunion with Ozil at United, having worked with him at Real Madrid, but it now seems that the Special One wants the younger and more energetic Niguez than the notoriously inconsistent German midfielder.
Niguez has a £134m buyout clause in his contract, but The Star predicts that he “could leave for less”.
Meanwhile, Atletico boss Diego Simeone is ready to offer Ozil a way out of the Emirates when his contract expires next summer.
It’s now a given at Arsenal that Ozil won’t sign a new deal and instead will leave on a free at the end of the season. According to The Star, Simeone is prepared to “offer a deal worth £200,000 a week”, which while considerably less than the £330,000-a-week Ozil has allegedly been demanding in north London, will still keep the wolf from the door.
In addition, says the newspaper, Ozil will “pocket a huge signing-on fee” at the La Liga club.
