Mesut Ozil is holding out for £300,000/week in wages if he is to sign an extension at Arsenal
According to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Premier League side Arsenal are refusing to comply with the demands of under-performing attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil, whose contract runs out at the end of next season.
The Germany international currently earns £140,000 per week at the Emirates, and is likely to pocket £250,000 if he is to sign the contract that has been put forth on the table by manager Arsene Wenger.
However, Ozil is playing hardball and is asking for an additional £50k, to take his weekly wage to a staggering £300,000 per week. Arsenal are not known to be a club that buy into their players’ exceedingly high wage demands, and are unwilling to offer the German what he is looking for.
The 28-year-old moved to Arsenal on transfer deadline day in the summer transfer window of the 2013/14 season for a club record fee of £42.5 million. It was also the highest amount paid for a German player in the history of the game.
To say that Ozil hasn’t lived up to his hype will be a lie, as the German has created innumerable chances for his players, some of which have converted to assists. In fact, in December last year, the former Real Madrid man was second on the table for league assists after 100 games.
This season, however, things have been a lot more different for the industrious attacking midfielder. His numbers have gone down considerably and has started to go missing in games where his team needs him the most.
Also, with the uncertainty looming over the futures of Arsene Wenger and Alexis Sanchez, there appears to be palpable discord behind the scenes at the club. Wenger has been linked with an exit, but is expected to sign a two-year-extension.
Sanchez, on the other hand, could be on his way out, maybe at the end of this season, or he could see out his contract and leave on a free next summer. The Chilean appears to be disgruntled with life at the Emirates, and could look to ply his trade elsewhere.
With all that’s being going on, it will undoubtedly be difficult for Ozil to think with a straight head, so he is expected to wait until the end of the season before giving an answer. Wenger’s future will also play a key role as to whether the German will stay or leave the Gunners.
