Newcastle United have reportedly been linked with a move for former Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil following their recent takeover.
According to the well-known journalist, Ekrem Konur, Newcastle United are allegedly interested in bringing Fenerbahce midfielder Mesut Ozil back to the Premier League to bolster their midfield.
Following the completion of the takeover, the Magpies have been linked with a slew of high-profile moves, from Philippe Coutinho to Kalidou Koulibaly and some very ridiculous ones such as Mauro Icardi, Raheem Sterling or Antonio Rudiger. Newcastle appear to be a hot topic among football agents, player representatives and selling clubs looking for lucrative deals while the media continues to connect the dots.
Fenerbahçe goalkeeper Altay Bayındir and captain Mesut Özil are the latest names to join the shortlist of Newcastle United targets in the new era, as per the tweet. After being frozen out under Mikel Arteta, Ozil ultimately left Arsenal this January upon reaching an agreement to terminate his contract at Emirates, joining Turkish giants Fenerbahce on a free transfer taking a significant pay-cut.
After struggling initially with fitness and off-field issues, the German superstar has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence of late and has been given the captain’s armband in the absence of Luiz Gustavo. The 33-year-old has four goal involvements(3G 1A) from 10 appearances made for Fener across all competitions so far this season.
But this hasn’t stopped speculation around him, and there were reports last month of Ozil being unhappy at Fenerbahce with lack of playing time and a falling-out with manager Vitor Pereira. Therefore, the playmaker might be open to returning to the English top-flight, especially if he is getting a hefty pay rise.
Regarded as one of the brightest footballing minds in modern football during his time at Schalke and Real Madrid, the German sensation had a rollercoaster ride in the Premier League following his move to Arsenal. The attacking midfielder produced a tally of 58 assists and 33 goals from 184 league games and helped Gunners lift 4 FA Cup trophies.
Watching Newcastle games closely, one can easily observe that they lack a quality passer in midfield, with Jonjo Shelvey the only reliable passing option on their roster. Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, and Isaac Hayden are all workhorses and can be decent box-to-box players but are not good at threading slick passes for strikers to pounce upon.
Ozil can be a very decent option for the short term. A classy operator on his day, the ex-Arsenal star is gifted with extraordinary technical ability and impeccable vision. Considering the Magpies often miss that final killer pass resulting in goal-scoring opportunities, Ozil can be that provider feeding the likes of Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron working the channels.
But, coming out of nostalgia, bringing in someone like Ozil would not benefit the Toon in the longer run. Moreover, the 33-year-old is under contract at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium until June 30, 2024. So, it would require him to break up his term again. Only time will tell whether this story has any base or is just another rumour, but certainly, one to relish for Newcastle fans.
