Mesut Ozil’s agent says the German midfielder will not leave the North London club at the end of the current season. Erkut Sogut, the midfielder’s representative however conceded that there is a ’90 per cent’ chance that Ozil will leave when his contract expires in 2021.
The 31-year-old Ozil is Arsenal’s top earner on £350,000-a-week but he has been frozen out under new manager, Mikel Arteta, failing to make a single first-team appearance since the season’s restart. Speculation is rife that he is not in Mikel Arteta’s plans for the future, either.
Arsenal are desperate to remove Ozil from the wage bill but the German has no intention of making a swift exit and has informed close friends that he wishes to see out the remaining year of his deal in north London.
This would see Ozil leave the Gunners on a free transfer and Sogut believes this is the most likely scenario in what has become an embarrassing situation for the club.
“I do not think there will be a change in the case of Mesut Ozil until the summer of 2021,’ he told Turkish outlet Fanatik.
“He has a contract. There is no change. He will remain with Arsenal.”
Sogut can envisage Ozil playing his trade in Turkey or even playing MLS football down the line.
“‘There’s a 90 per cent chance he will leave Arsenal in 2021. Mesut to Asia, America or Turkey? Yes, maybe.”
Last week, club legend Ian Wright claimed Ozil’s Arsenal career was over whether or not he departs this summer. ‘I think that he’s gone,’ the ex-Arsenal striker told Premier League Productions.
“It’s all about attitude. The thing is when you look at Dani Ceballos he had an attitude problem, Mikel turned him round and now he’s in the team. Matteo Guendouzi – they’re talking about him having a problem – he’s not in the team.
“Mikel’s given people the opportunity to get into the team if their attitude is right but at the minute their attitude is not right.
“Arsenal need him [Ozil] of course but I believe that he’s somebody that’s gone from Arsenal whether he stays or Mikel gets rid of him, we’re not going to see much of him.’
Arsenal have cited back soreness as a reason for Ozil’s absence in recent weeks and the midfielder is not expected to feature in this weekend’s FA Cup final clash with Chelsea. However, the former Real Madrid star has been pictured in training with the rest of his team-mates at London Colney this week.
