Ozil discusses his future
Mesut Ozil has said he may see out his career at Arsenal. The 30-year-old German midfielder is a “Marmite” figure at the Emirates, dividing opinion among Gooners into those who see him as a mercurial genius and others who regard him as a work-shy wanderer who has one great game a season.
Ozil signed a new contract with the club in January worth £350,000 a week and, according to the Evening Standard, that will tie him to Arsenal until 2021.
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But the paper reports his comments during the launch of his wellness brand Unity when asked if he would end his career at the Emirates Stadium.
“Why not?” he replied. “I am still young… in football, everything is possible but I am really happy to play for a big club like Arsenal. I just enjoy it and I can imagine finishing my career at Arsenal.”
And when the German was asked if he had a date in mind to hang up his boots, Ozil said: “I always think if I feel well, I could go on until I am 35 or 36, I don’t know. If everything is good, we’ll see.”
A bid for Benatia
The Sun reports that Arsenal are the latest club to be linked with Juventus defender Medhi Benatia.
Manchester United are “in the hunt to sign him” but the Sun claims the Gunners could “leapfrog” their Premier League rivals and snatch the Moroccan international from under their noses.
Described as a “peripheral figure” at Juventus under Massimiliano Allegri, the centre-back could leave Turin as early as January.
Italian news outlet Tuttomercatoweb says that Arsenal “are vying to bring him to north London in the winter transfer window” with Unai Emery ready to meet Juventus’s £31m asking price for the 31-year-old.
Battle for Ngonge
Arsenal and Liverpool are “battling it out” for Club Brugge forward Cyril Ngonge, says the Daily Mirror, with the paper adding that the Belgium Under-19 striker has caught the eye of Emery and Jurgen Klopp.
Apparently Liverpool boss Klopp has sent his scouts to watch the 18-year-old in action, and Gunners gaffer Emery is doing likewise. Arsenal’s interest is likely to increase after the horrific ankle injury suffered by Danny Welbeck against Sporting Lisbon last night, which is likely to sideline the England striker for the rest of the season.
Rated “as one of Belgium’s brightest young talents”, the teenage marksman has also attracted interest from Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Lille and Inter Milan, and Brugge are hopeful a bidding war will soon break out to push up Ngonge’s price.