Mesut Ozil could become Arsenal’s first £200,000-per-week player if he agrees a contract extension.
LONDON, United Kingdom, Jan 9 – Mesut Ozil wants clarity on the future of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger before he commits his future to the club.
Reports over the last couple of months have suggested that the biggest stumbling block in negotiations between the player and club was the distance between Ozil’s demands and the Gunners’ offer.
Along with team-mate Alexis Sanchez, the German’s contract expires in 2018 and, with no deal thought to be close, rumours are circulating that Ozil’s future could lie away from the Emirates Stadium.
However, the 28-year-old claims that he is “ready” to put pen to paper on a new deal and that the ball is in Arsenal’s court.
“I am very, very happy at Arsenal and have let the club know that I would be ready to sign a new contract,” Ozil he told German magazine Kicker. “The fans want that I stay and now it is just down to the club.”
Wenger’s contract expires at the end of the season and it is likely that the Frenchman will wait until then to decide whether to carry on for at least another campaign.
And Ozil wants to know what his boss is going to do before he decides his long-term future in north London.
“The club knows that I am here most of all because of Arsene Wenger,” added Ozil.
“He is the one who signed me and he is the one whose trust I have. The club also knows that I want to be clear what the manager is going to [do in the future].”
