Mesut Ozil touted around clubs as Arsenal future remains increasingly unclear
Mesut Ozil’s Arsenal future could be decided by intermediaries who are working to find clubs that would be able to afford to sign the midfielder.
Arsenal are thought to be open to offers for Ozil, who has missed as many games as he has played for the club under head coach Unai Emery this season.
Ozil’s £350,000-a-week wages are the biggest obstacle to any move away, but Telegraph Sport understands middle men have been sounding out clubs over his potential availability.
There is no suggestion the intermediaries are working for Arsenal or have been employed by the club, but the club are likely to listen if a proposal is put to them.
The intermediaries Telegraph Sport are aware of have strong links to China and Italy, two countries already touted as possible destinations for Ozil.
Arsenal may only have a budget of around £50million if they miss out on Champions League qualification again, which makes Ozil their best hope of freeing up significant funds.
Other than finding clubs that are potentially willing and able to sign Ozil, the search also incorporates finding opportunities for Arsenal to include him in a summer swap deal.
Arsenal signed Ozil for a then club record fee of £42.5m in 2013 and his career got off to an encouraging start.
But the 30-year-old has constantly been scrutinised for his performances in big games and he has missed a number of matches through illness and injury.
Arsenal handed Ozil a new £350,000-a-week three-and-a-half-year contract in February last year, but the decision has backfired spectacularly.
It has become clear that Emery, who succeeded Arsene Wenger in the summer, does not trust Ozil to carry out his tactical plan against high-energy opposition.
Ozil’s situation is increasingly becoming untenable with Arsenal unable to afford such an expensive asset spending most of his time on the substitutes’ bench or in the stands.
