OGC Nice are reportedly interested in signing William Saliba on a loan deal while Mesut Ozil could reportedly be on his way to DC United.
According to a report by But Football Club, William Saliba is the subject of interest from OGC Nice over a possible loan deal for the second half of the season. The Frenchman’s former club Saint-Etienne also want to secure his services on a temporary basis, amid his struggles at Arsenal.
Saliba joined Arsenal from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2019 and was immediately hauled off on loan to the French club for the entirety of the 2019/20 season. The youngster impressed in France yet again, despite his struggles with injuries, and was touted to be a great success at the Emirates.
However, Saliba is yet to feature for the first-team this term and has had to suffice with outings for the club’s under-23 side. The lack of game-time is now forcing Saliba’s hand, with the Frenchman eager to secure regular football. In fact, it was even reported that the 19-year-old could be sent out on loan in the summer before a move failed to materialise.
Now, though, it is highly likely that Saliba will be on his way out of Arsenal on a temporary basis in the January transfer window, as he remains on the fringes of the first-team squad. Former club Saint-Etienne have expressed an interest to sign him this winter. And now, OGC Nice have also joined the queue of suitors.
The interest from Nice has cropped up due to the fact that Dante is sidelined for the remainder of the season, forcing former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira, now the Nice manager, to scour for possible loan options for January. Saliba is, therefore, a viable target, who is unlikely to take long to settle in at the club owing to his prior experience with Saint-Etienne.
However, it has also been reported that Saliba is set to join Saint-Etienne on loan for a second time. Saliba is understandably open to a return as well. Either way, a move back to France on loan should ideally bode well for the teenager as well as Arsenal, as far as their long-term prospects are concerned.
Meanwhile, according to a report by Eurosport, Mesut Ozil could be set to finally call it quits at Arsenal, either in January or next summer. The German playmaker is the subject of interest from DC United, with the player open to a switch to the Major League Soccer as well.
Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in a shock deal that saw Arsenal smash their club transfer record at the time by shelling out £42.5 million for his services in the summer of 2013. In the seven years since, the 32-year-old has seen his fair share of highs and lows at the Emirates.
While regarded as one of the best creative midfielders in the world for the longest time, he has had to battle hard for a place in the side over the last couple of seasons. Things have reached a head for Ozil at Arsenal since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, with Mikel Arteta completely freezing him out of the Arsenal squad.
In fact, Ozil does not feature at all in Arsenal’s Premier League and UEFA Europa League squads and it has been reported that he is set to leave the club soon. Arsenal, on their part, could be entering the market for a playmaker as well, having struggled for creativity so far this term.
As for Ozil, a possible switch to Turkey was mooted in the summer before he chose to stay and fight for his place at the Emirates. With his fate sealed at Arsenal, it is now being reported that he could be set to make his way to the MLS. As per Eurosport, DC United are showing an interest in Ozil, who is also open to a switch to the club due to his business interests in Washington.
His fall in stature surely means that he is unlikely to play for a top European club again and a move to the MLS could do him a world of good. Arsenal, though, want Ozil sold in January and it will be interesting to see if DC United are willing to make a move this winter. Either way, Ozil appears destined to leave Arsenal soon enough, with MLS likely to be his next destination.