Option Mesut Ozil: Division at Barça on move for Arsenal playmaker
Barcelona can't decide whether to move for Ozil in January or not
Out of contract next summer, he would be available for 20 million
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu's said the club will look to strengthen in January. Bartomeu is aware there are various operations on the table. Some which could even be signed in the coming weeks. One of them is Arsenal's Mesut Ozil. The main problem is that his signing could case a split behind the scenes just when Ernesto Valverde had restored the calm.
The move for Ozil's been handled by Raul Sanllehi, who has a good relationship with Arsenal. Sanllehi met in London with the player's agent, Erkut Sogut, and brother to negotiate. Everything was practically closed. Now, general manager Pep Segura must have the final word on any potential deal in collaboration with sporting director Robert Fernandez and coach Ernesto Valverde.
No one doubts Ozil's quality. But some feel it's not the right move. It would cost 20 million euros for a player who is out of contract next summer. There are also serious doubts about how he would adapt to the dressing room. His disconnection on the pitch and his social life, which saw him leave Real Madrid, are concerns. At the moment, there's opposition to the signing and Segura's not given the OK to the deal negotiated by Sanllehi, who will leave Barça in December, possibly even for Arsenal. He has various offers on the table.
For now, time will be taken before a decision is made. Various coaches feel more should be made on signing players who have a big future ahead of them. In the case that's not possible, someone capable of immediate performances could be an option. A plus for Ozil is that he would be eligible to play in the Champions League.
One player that has been ruled out is Angel Di Maria. The club will not pay the 70 million Paris Saint-Germain want for a 29-year-old.
The move for Philippe Coutinho remains open, but Sanllehi, who has handled those negotiations without success so far, is leaning towards Ozil given the problems in agreeing to a deal with Liverpool. It remains to be seen if, in the end, Barça move for the German international or not.
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