United and Barca chase Ozil
After being benched for Arsenal’s visit to Bournemouth at the weekend, Mesut Ozil’s time at the Emirates is more uncertain than ever. Reports suggest that Manchester United are the favourites to sign the German midfielder.
Claiming that Ozil’s Arsenal career has been “thrown into doubt” after Sunday’s snub, the Daily Star says that Gunners boss Unai Emery will probably seek to offload the 30-year-old in January.
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United are leading the race to snap up Ozil, according to the bookies, with Jose Mourinho apparently keen for a reunion with a player he got to know well when he was in charge at Real Madrid.
£100m wanted
But it’s Real’s great rivals, Barcelona, who may yet have a say in where Ozil plays his football next year. The Daily Express reports that Barca are “keen on Ozil” and coach Ernesto Valverde will fight tooth and nail to bring him to the Camp Nou.
That will mean meeting Arsenal’s asking price, which according to the Express will be “towards the £100m mark”.
Four face uncertain futures
The London Evening Standard reports that the future of four Gunners is likely to be decided in January when the contracts of Aaron Ramsey, Danny Welbeck, Petr Cech and Stephan Lichtsteiner are discussed by the board.
The quartet are in the final six months of their contracts. While it’s accepted that Ramsey is on his way out of north London – to Juventus believes the Standard – “the most pressing matter is what to do with Danny Welbeck”.
The 28-year-old is also expected to leave the club, although the paper doesn’t speculate as to his possible destination. Meanwhile Cech and Lichtsteiner could also be released after the former lost his place to Bernd Leno between the sticks.
The soon-to-be 35-year-old Lichtsteiner, who signed a one-year deal last summer, has performed well in his appearances. He could yet convince Emery to take up the option and extend his Arsenal stay “by a further 12 months”.
