Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move - 7M sport

Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move



Posted Thursday, January 07, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Mesut Ozil could be headed for the Arsenal exit door before the January transfer window closes amid rumours he will join Turkish giants Fenerbahce.

Mesut Ozil's agent Dr Erkut Sogut says the player's Arsenal future will be clearer in the next seven to 10 days amid reports from Turkey that a deal has been agreed to take the German to Fenerbahce.

The Arsenal playmaker has been in exile this season having not been included in either of Mikel Arteta's 25-man Premier League or Europa League squads.

Ozil has not played for the Gunners since before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Premier League and football worldwide in March and has not made a single match-day squad this term.

The 32-year-old's contract at the Emirates expires in six months' time and though he has previously declared he will see out the final months of his £350,000-a-week deal, speculation has suggested he could be on the move before the January transfer window closes.

Following apparent talks with DC United, reports from Turkey have said that Fenerbahce have agreed a three-year contract to take Ozil to the Turkish Super Lig on a free.

Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move
Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move (Image: GETTY)

Fenerbahce are long-time admirers of the World Cup winner, who is a self-confessed fan of the club as a third-generation Turkish-German whose first language is Turkish.

ESPN have claimed such rumours are false and that an agreement is not currently close with either the American or Turkish outfits, with alternative interest from Asia and Qatar too.

But Sogut, speaking exclusively to the same outlet, insists Ozil's future will become clearer over the next week or so.

"We were not allowed to talk legally before January 1 so now we are just starting to look at the options with the numbers and details," Sogut said.

"I can't talk about the clubs directly because it would be unprofessional but generally, there is six months left on the contract and it is nothing unusual that we will talk to people about different opportunities and try to find the best option for Mesut.

Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move
Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move (Image: GETTY)

"He might stay at Arsenal until the summer but he might go. Mesut's priority is to stay but you never know in football, things can change very fast.

"For the moment, we are just checking all the options for January and the summer. If we want to leave in January, I need to talk to Arsenal.

"If we sign for the summer, we don't need to. That's the situation. In the next seven to ten days, it will be a little clearer as now the transfer window is open, things can move faster."

ESPN add that Arsenal have confirmed to them that they are not in any active discussions with clubs about Ozil's future.

The ex-Germany international broke his way back into the team under Arteta having also only played sporadically under his predecessor Unai Emery, though he was offered a return under the latter after a lengthy absence from the team.

Ozil started all of Arteta's first 10 league matches but has not featured since refusing to take a 12.5 per cent pay cut amid the financial impact of COVID-19.

The player, who is renowned for doing a huge amount of charity work, later insisted that he needed "more information" what Arsenal's hierarchy would do with the money saved and adding: "Many questions were unanswered."

Ozil was also criticised when he spoke out about China's alleged persecution of Uighur Muslims in the country.

Arsenal said in a statement on Chinese social media platform Weibo afterwards: "Regarding the comments made by Mesut Ozil on social media, Arsenal must make a clear statement.

"The content published is Ozil's personal opinion. As a football club, Arsenal has always adhered to the principle of not involving itself in politics."

Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move
Arsenal ace Mesut Ozil's agent gives update with reports star has 'agreed' Fenerbahce move (Image: GETTY)

He would later respond to The Athletic: "Every human is equal. It doesn't matter what religion or colour you are - Muslim, Christian, Jew, black, white or anything else. We are all the same.

"What I said was not against Chinese people, it was against whoever is doing this to the Uighur Muslims and other people who are not helping them, such as other Muslim countries.

"I have given a lot to Arsenal, on and off the pitch, so the reaction was disappointing. They said they don’t get involved in politics but this isn’t politics and they have got involved in other issues.

"In America, we saw George Floyd killed and the world spoke up to say Black Lives Matter, and that is correct. We are all equal and it’s a good thing that people fight against injustice. There are a lot of black players and fans of Arsenal and it is fantastic the club is backing them.

"But I wish people would have done the same for the Muslims because Arsenal have many Muslim players and fans as well, and it is important for the world to say that Muslim Lives Matter."

Arteta has however repeatedly declared that Ozil's exclusion from his plans is down to footballing matters rather than in-house political problems.



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