Mesut Özil is reportedly considering a return to Real Madrid should the contract negotiations with Arsenal fail. The German left the Spanish club in 2013 and is yet to agree an extension on his deal which expires in 2018 (via ESPN).
Mesut Özil has really shown his considerable quality this season, especially in that win over Chelsea last weekend. The German is Arsenal’s highest paid player but his contract expires at the end of next season. We broke the news earlier in the week that he was close to agreeing a new deal with the club but it now seems that he’s making plans elsewhere.
The German reportedly demands two things from the negotiations. The first is that he can get the number 10 shirt from Jack Wilshere, and the second is that Arsenal sign the highest quality players in order to start really challenging for titles again.
The Gunners were strengthened over the summer with the acquisitions of Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi who have both settled into the team well. Mustafi especially has been rock solid in the last month.
Should these conditions not be met then Mesut Özil is eyeing a return to Real Madrid. The German left the club in 2013 for the Emirates and ESPN reports that Özil is a big admirer of the project Zinedine Zidane is creating at the Bernabeu right now.
The paper also reports that the former Madrid man is currently happy in North London so it seems that the ball is in Arsenal’s court over whether they meet Özil’s demands. Should they agree a deal with the 27-year-old, then that could increase the possibility of Alexis Sanchez signing a new contract with the club. His deal also expires in 2018.
It would be a huge sign of ambition if Arsenal can agree new contracts with their two star men and a vitally important move for the future of the club.