Arsenal star Mesut Ozil is reportedly in talks over a shock Major League Soccer move as DC United seek a replacement for Wayne Rooney.
According to a report by Daily Mirror, Mesut Ozil has emerged as a possible option for DC United to replace Wayne Rooney. The MLS club are set for talks with representatives of the German star, who Arsenal are ready to offload this summer, with exploratory discussions set to take place next week.
Also, two names that will come up in the #dcu rumor mill as possible January transfers: Mario Balotelli and Mesut Ozil. Doesn’t mean one or the other is on the way, but there has been contact between the sides. Save that for the next #sillyseason.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) August 6, 2019
Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in a then-club record £42.5 million deal in the summer of 2013, amid a lot of hype and excitement. The German playmaker had been one of the best creative forces in all of Europe at the time of the move. But, in the six years that have since transpired, he has been unable to hit the heights that he did at the Bernabeu.
An inconsistent figure under Arsene Wenger, Ozil saw his role reduce to an extent following the arrival of Unai Emery, having started just 28 games last term. And, reports earlier this year had suggested that Arsenal were open to the idea of selling the 30-year-old.
But, his £350,000-a-week wages have turned out to be a problem for the Gunners in their bid to offload the star playmaker. Ozil had been heavily linked with a move to Fenerbahce, but the Turkish giants ended up pulling out of the deal for the Arsenal midfielder.
In fact, Fener even made an official statement, which iterated that under their current economic conditions, “such a step is not possible for both parties”. Now though, DC United might offer Arsenal a way out of their Ozil mess.
The MLS outfit are set to lose Wayne Rooney at the end of the season, with the Manchester United legend set to join Derby County in January in a player-coach role. Rooney’s departure would open up a Designated Player slot for DC United, which would allow them to offer a somewhat lucrative pay package.
A move to the American capital though, will not happen before January, till when all the three Designated Player slots are occupied. For now, Ozil’s representatives are set for exploratory discussions with DC United, with the talks set to take place next week.
As things stand, however, Ozil is likely to spend at least the first half of the upcoming season with Arsenal, unless another suitor emerges on his trail. Otherwise, a move to DC United, to be Wayne Rooney’s replacement, could be on the cards, when the January transfer window opens.
