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Arsene Wenger confirms Arsenal are in contract negotiations with Mesut Ozil

Manchester United want to sign him on a free next summer and Jose Mourinho recently refused to rule out such a possibility ahead of their meeting a fortnight ago

Tuesday 12 December 2017 10:44 GMT
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Arsenal are desperate to keep Mesut Ozil at the club
Arsenal are desperate to keep Mesut Ozil at the club (Arsenal FC)

Arsene Wenger has confirmed Arsenal are continuing to try and tie Mesut Ozil down to a new contract with Manchester United waiting in the wings.

The 28-year-old's current deal runs out at the end of the season and he is yet to show any real willingness to remain at the Emirates beyond this campaign.

United want to sign him on a free transfer next summer and manager Jose Mourinho recently publicly refused to rule out such a possibility ahead of their meeting a fortnight ago.

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Wenger has always maintained that he and the club wanted the German to stay and recently backtracked on suggestions they would be willing to cash in in January.

And speaking ahead of the clash with West Ham on Wednesday Wenger confirmed the club are continuing their efforts to keep one of their star men.

“Negotiations are always going on with everybody. Our door is always open," he said. “For the rest, I can not tell you much more.”

Mourinho and Ozil have a good relationship having both arrived at Real Madrid together in the summer of 2010, and worked well together, with the Portuguese placing great trust in the playmaker as he quickly realised that Ozil was capable of understanding and executing complex tactical orders.

They have remained on good terms since, to the point that Mourinho actually wrote the foreword for the player's recent autobiography.

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