Juventus have been offered the opportunity to sign Mesut Ozil on loan in January as Arsenal prepare for life without the German playmaker.
According to a report from Tuttosport, Mesut Ozil’s agent, Erkut Sogut, has initiated contact with Juventus regarding a potential move to Turin in January. Arsenal are ready to offload the playmaker as well, even willing to pay half his wages during his proposed six-month stint in Italy.
Although Ozil is not averse to a potential move elsewhere, the player has shown a desire to remain at Arsenal. He wants to see out his contract at Emirates and fight to earn his place in the side, knowing Mikel Arteta will have the opportunity of registering him back to the Premier League squad following the turn of the year.
It could be a rather welcome sight for Arsenal fans, who have been calling his return for a long time now. Without his presence in the side, the Gunners have evidently lacked creativity, especially considering the disastrous performances of wingers like Nicolas Pepe and Willian while Gabriel Martinelli has been unlucky with injuries.
On the flip side, however, Ozil’s continued presence in the roster could once again cripple Arsenal’s powers in the transfer market. The club has already shown a desire to spend big in January, notably identifying Julian Brandt as a potential target. So the German’s departure from Emirates could serve as a major financial boost, something Arteta could use in an attempt to revitalise the squad.
As for Ozil, a transfer to Juventus will give him the opportunity to reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo. The duo had played together during their glory days at Real Madrid before the playmaker moved to Arsenal in 2013. He could also be reunited with former Arsenal teammate Aaron Ramsey, although it remains to be seen whether or not the Welshman will remain in Turin next season.
In fact, Ozil’s potential arrival at Juventus could serve as an aftermath of Ramsey’s departure, especially considering the fact that the midfielder was indeed linked with a shock move to Stamford Bridge in the summer.
At the same time, though, Juve have very little reason to sign the Arsenal star, who is already past his prime and doesn’t offer any prospect for the future. His rather expensive wage demands could also cripple them in the financial sense, at least as long as Ronaldo is still in their books. In contrast, a move to MLS seems rather plausible for Ozil and it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the talented playmaker next month.
