Transfer News: Mesut Ozil closing in on Fenerbahce switch

Mesut Ozil could soon be on the verge of leaving the Emirates, with the Arsenal superstar reportedly set to join Fenerbahce this January.

According to a report by Sabah, Mesut Ozil has agreed a deal in principle to sign for Fenerbahce. The two parties have made some major strides in their pursuit of finding an agreement over a three-and-a-half year agreement, with even Arsenal now reportedly set to pay his wages during the final six months of his contract.

Fenerbahce, on the other hand, have stepped up their process of finding a suitable sponsor, who can help fund the salary of Ozil. PUMA, in particular, are already willing to strike a deal with Ozil and the Turkish outfit. In addition, the club is reportedly keen on offloading some of their players including Mame Thiam, Papiss Demba Cisse, Mauricio Lemos and Sinan Gumus.

Subject to completion, Ozil’s transfer to Fenerbahce will mark the end of an era that saw the German superstar establish himself as one of the best playmakers to play in the Premier League in the 21st century. His tally of 58 assists and 33 goals in 184 league matches is often overlooked due to a couple of poor seasons following the departure of Arsene Wenger.

The ex-Real Madrid star is yet to even feature in a single game in the ongoing campaign. He was infamously omitted from Arsenal’s Premier League squad by Mikel Arteta at the start of the season. And although the Gunners have struggled in his absence, they have appeared more than willing to keep him out on the sidelines.

That said, Arteta has had some luck in recent weeks, particularly with the emergence of Emile Smith Rowe. The young playmaker has been involved in two goals during a run of three consecutive wins in the Premier League. As a result, he is now set to become a critical part of the club’s first-team plans.

In addition, Arsenal has also been linked with a move for a new creative midfielder this January, including Julian Draxler. It won’t be unreasonable to believe that the potential departure of Ozil could further open the gates for the Gunners to make a move for the PSG outcast, whose contract expires at the end of the campaign. He could, thus, be available on a cut-price move this month.