Mesut Ozil is reportedly desperate to leave Arsenal for Barcelona and has asked his representatives to push through a summer move.
Spanish publication Don Balon have reported that Mesut Ozil is looking for a way out of Arsenal and is keen on making the switch to Barcelona. The German playmaker has asked his representatives to make the move to Camp Nou a reality in the coming weeks.
Ozil has been regarded as one of the best playmakers in the world for several years now, and the German international has played an instrumental role in Arsenal’s fortunes in the last four years.
Indeed, while the player has been a vital component in the Gunners’ three FA Cup triumphs, a significant dip in form last season also mirrored a slump in the North London club’s fortunes as they finished 5th in the Premier League.
Ozil bagged 12 goals and 14 assists in 44 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal – a modest return for a player of his qualities. Despite enduring a below-par campaign though, he remains a well sought-after player in the transfer market. One club that has been keeping a keen eye on Ozil is Barcelona.
The Blaugrana have endured a disappointing time in the current transfer window, having failed to land any of their primary targets, with things threatening to go haywire following the departure of Neymar. While attack has suddenly become a priority, midfield is a key area that needs reinforcements as well.
In fact, manager Ernesto Valverde has been in pursuit of several midfielders over the last two months without much success. His primary target was reported to be Marco Verratti, but PSG stayed strong on their stance on the Italian playmaker, thus forcing them to set their sights elsewhere.
The likes of Coutinho and Jean-Michael Seri, who remain the top two targets for Barcelona, have been eyed as well, with Ozil being the latest candidate for them.
The Catalan club have struggled to fill the void left by the departure of Xavi two years ago, and with Andres Iniesta well into the twilight years of his career, the need to sign a top playmaker is urgent. Ozil, too, is keen on making the switch to Camp Nou this summer as he does not want to slog it out in Europa League next season.
Therefore, the player is seeking a move to Barcelona, and has asked his representatives to approach Barcelona for a possible transfer. It now remains to be seen if Barcelona move on from their pursuits of Coutinho and Seri to turn their attention towards Ozil, or if the German remains at Emirates.
