Arsenal transfer news: Mesut Ozil, Medhi Benatia, Cyril Ngonge
German playmaker Ozil can imagine finishing his career at the Emirates
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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The Hum': the real-life noise behind The Listeners
In The Spotlight Can some of us also hear the disturbing sound that plagues characters in the hit TV show – and where is it coming from?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Week Unwrapped: Are we any closer to identifying UFOs?
Podcast Plus, will deals with Tunisia and Kurdistan help Labour? And what next for the Wagner Group?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 16 - 22 November
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
The Premier League's spending cap: levelling the playing field?
Talking Point Top clubs oppose plans to link spending to income of lowest-earning club, but rule could prevent success gap from widening
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
English football and the etiquette of leaving the stadium early
Talking Point The belief that 'true fans stay to the end' does not always apply
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published