Fenerbahce manager Erol Bulut has refused to comment on reports linking wantaway Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil with a move to the Turkish giants.
It is understood that that the Gunners midfielder, who has not played for the club in almost 12 months, is on the brink of finally sealing an exit from the Emirates Stadium and finalising a move to Turkey.
Ozil, who was not even named in Arsenal's Premier League and Europa League squads this season, appears set to sign for Fenerbahce after turning down the chance to join American outfit DC United.
Though Bulut refused to comment on the reports suggesting that Ozil's arrival in Turkey is imminent, he did not deny it either.
“Mesut Ozil's situation will become clear in the coming days,” Bulut said. "Mesut’s name is very common.
"It is not possible for me to make a comment before he comes.”
Hours before Bulut had his say on Ozil's proposed switch to Turkey, Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, whilst addressing the media ahead of the Gunners' FA Cup third round tie with Newcastle United this weekend, admitted that he did not know what was going on with Ozil's future.
Ozil becomes a free agent this summer when his lucrative three-and-a-half-year extension he signed in 2018, worth around £350,000-a-week, expires, representing a significant financial loss for the Gunners given his lack of impact and time on the field.
Arteta, addressing the media on Thursday morning, said: "I don't know what is going to happen. Obviously now he's free to negotiate with other clubs.
"We will discuss internally what the best situation for him is for the near future, obviously with the player and the agent too, and try to find the best solution for everyone.
"I think every player wants to play football. This is why we picked this profession and we are so lucky to be doing what we do. For every player that's not playing, it's always hard.
"I'm saying we will decide what's happening in the next few days."
Ozil's likely exit from the Emirates Stadium will come as no surprise, with the attacking-midfielder having not played for the club since March 7 last year, featuring in the Gunners' 1-0 win over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
