Arsenal: MLS Sides Interested in Mesut Ozil

Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal career has come to an abrupt halt.

His most recent outing for Arsenal came in the final match before the 2019/20 season was temporarily postponed, where he characteristically laid on the assist for Alexandre Lacazette‘s VAR-awarded winner in a 1-0 victory.

Not kicking a ball since, the decision to omit him from both the Europa League squad and the Premier League squad for the current campaign has seen Mikel Arteta draw widespread criticism. A call that split the fanbase in their opinions, regardless of everyone’s respective viewpoint, the likelihood is that Mesut Ozil won’t kick another ball for the club again.

It’s become clear that with this being the case, getting the German’s £350k-per-week wages off the bill has become the main target for January. Freeing up valuable funds could go some way to allowing Arsenal to pursue a creative midfielder.

Links to Turkey have been prevalent for over a year – as well as elsewhere – with Fichajes adding that Major League Soccer outfits DC United and LA Galaxy are also keeping tabs on the World Cup winner.

https://twitter.com/MesutOzil1088/status/1325843970275074049

Javier Hernández has not made the impact expected since he joined in January 2020 on a deal that placed him among the highest paid players in the division. Just two goals in his 12 matches for the club has fallen well below the requirements, and if he were to depart Galaxy, Ozil is the ideal player to come in.

The Galaxy are on a dire run of form with just two wins in their last 13 games, a period which resulted in the sacking of head coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto, with Dominic Kinnear taking over in the interim.

Sitting in tenth place in the Western Conference, Chicharito’s poor form has seen the club’s status as the MLS glamour club wane, and Ozil’s involvement would continue their rich history of global superstars, following from David Beckham and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, among many others.

Ozil earns roughly $18m more per year than the Mexican does in the City of Angels, but wherever he departs to other than the Middle East for China, he is expected to take a paycut.

In the Gunners’ case, they would prefer a January departure, of course, but Ozil’s repeated claims of being settled in London and keen to see out his contract – which expires in the summer – make that unlikely.