Arsene Wenger says he’s not given up on persuading Mesut Ozil to sign a new contract at the Emirates.
The Germany international’s representative, Erkut Sogut, was quoted this week in the Turkish press as saying that a new round of negotiations had been encouraging and that the midfielder would like to stay in the Premier League for a few more years.
Ozil has been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks, but Wenger agrees that new talks have been positive.
“That’s my understanding, yes,” he told his pre-Watford press conference on Friday.
“I always said that the fact we didn’t find an agreement last year doesn’t mean that the player will necessarily leave.
“Both players [Ozil and Alexis] look happy here and overall, I hope that the situation can be turned around.
“At the moment, no, we are not close enough to announce you anything.”
Both Ozil and Sanchez are free to sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs in January. So time is very much of the essence.
Clearly doesn’t want to stay… just like that girl who doesn’t text you back.
That’s why I think girlfriends should sign contracts. Mind you, it would make the months January to May quite awks if they didn’t want to renew…
Isn’t that a wedding?
Need to include pre nuptial agreement
They are obviously talking and it is interesting that the agent said that things were encouraging, usually they are the ones that are likely to say nothing or say that things are not great in order to encourage a higher bid.
Not optimistic but better than nothing. I think he is more likely to stay than Alexis.
…or it’s just a silly PR-stunt so that Özil stays in the fan’s good graces.
It’s just classic media management by ozil and his team to make the remaining months easier. Known says Ozils has downed tools now all of a sudden contract progress is made. Mind you if I was an Englishman playing for a top German side and suffered the constant criticism and abuse from the German media for the last 4 years. I doubt I’d re-sign.
Whatever happens, this is not the last time we’re going to be questioning our leadership in terms on players’ contracts.
Looking at contracts due to expire next season we have, deep breath, Ramsay, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck Monreal, Cech, Ospina, Debuchy and Akpom. Nine players from our first team will likely go into the summer with a world cup to play and with one year remaining on their contracts. You can argue the toss about whether or not you would want them to re-sign, but I find this baffling.
Giroud signed a (lengthy) extension back in January…
That extension only takes him to the summer of 2019 as far as I can tell.
Looks like it might actually be 2020 so apologies.
My gut feeling tells me Ozil is willing to commit. I guess the anticipated scramble for his signature has not materialised.
But I wonder if it would be wise, in the grand scheme of things, to keep him at the amount being touted.
I suspect Arsene/Arsenal are footdragging for the same reason.
We can get somebody younger and more suited to the team by January or summer. I am more inclined to this one.
“..but Wenger remains hopeful”. Hopeful about what? We all know he’s leaving in the Summer so enough of the BS stories -please.
From a PR perspective it will appear harmful to lose a ‘star player’. However from a practical point of view I don’t think he’ll be greatly missed. Now Sanchez. That’s gonna fu*king hurt. Whichever way you slice it!
Of course we will miss the most creative player in the country
Ozil is just so skillful he can hurt teams by just existing on the field as but also needs a great supporting cast to be effective. He will rarely do things by himself, I thought Wenger was coaxing that quality out of him last season before everything went to sh*t. The quality is there, hopefully he finds his groove at Arsenal. We certainly can do much worse that him.
Those Arsenal fans who seem to think we will be better off without Ozil: since his first game in the Premiership he has created more assists (42) and more chances (407) than any other player in the Premiership – what a disaster! It’s not his fault he has been supplying average quality players (with the exception of Sanchez) I hope he stays but can totally understand if he chooses to leave – either way he will be first choice creative player for Germany next summer so is he really too much of a luxury player for a team trying to… Read more »
It sucks that AW hasn’t surrounded him with enough attackers to take advantage of those. I’m sorry but due to injuries or just not being good enough AW has surrounded a world class creative player with average players at best except for Alexis and OG. Just think of some of the chances created were converted it could have helped put pressure of the defense. It all works together. Summer of ’15 like many of us AW blew it by not getting at least one good attacker that summer to help. Not think the club was good enough but go for… Read more »