Mikel Arteta’s insists the completion of Mesut Ozil’s anticipated transfer to Fenebahce is far from concrete as the wait goes on for the future of the exiled playmaker to be determined.
Ozil has held talks with Turkish giants Fenerbahce and MLS sides, including DC United, over his exit strategy away from Emirates Stadium having not played for Arsenal since March 2020.
Ozil’s agent Erkut Sogut was interviewed on beIN Sports in Turkey this week and his brother Mutlu has also dropped hints that Istanbul will be the German World Cup winner’s destination.
But he remains an Arsenal player and under contract until the summer as the club continue to absorb his £350,000-a-week salary in the midst of a pandemic with the 32-year-old not playing any football.
Financial issues continue to hold the move up but the Athletic’s David Ornstein reported on Thursday that Ozil is willing to forego the £7m Arsenal owe him, if he was to leave as a free agent this month, in order to speed up the process.
However, speaking after Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League, head coach Arteta insists he remains a Gunner, when asked if a deal to the Turkish Super Lig was any closer.
“Well I don’t know how close he’s been before,” Arteta said. “There are some conversations going with Edu and the club at the moment but nothing concrete yet.”
Arsenal won’t be receiving any kind of fee for Ozil but will get the last six months of his contract off the books and draw a welcome line under the controversy of the whole episode.
With just over two weeks of the January window remaining, a quick conclusion to negotiations would be preferable as Arteta looks to make some reinforcements this month, albeit with a modest budget.
Arsenal are keen to add at least, a creative midfielder and second-choice goalkeeper to provide competition to No1 Bernd Leno.
