Contrary to previous reports, Jose Mourinho apparently doesn’t want to sign Mesut Ozil next summer.
According to journalist Duncan Castles, the Manchester United boss rates Ozil but isn’t interested in signing him.
“Mourinho does like him as a player. He’s got that combination of creativity and tactical awareness that he likes,” said Castles on the Transfer Window podcast.
“But the information I’m getting is that Ozil’s not the player he plans to add to the team next summer.
“He’s already worked out the areas he wants to improve in.
“He always had a three summer transfer window plan for Manchester United.
“What I’m told he wants is a player who is better than what he’s got at the moment and they don’t see Ozil as being better than what he’s got in terms of that central, creative, attacking midfielder.
“Where he does want to recruit is in a faster wide player which isn’t Ozil’s forte.
“I think it’s unlikely that’s the club he ends up at when he has his freedom on contract in the summer.”
It was previously rumoured that the former Real Madrid coach, who once described Ozil as the best no.10 in the world, wanted to bring the 28-year-old to Manchester seeing as his Arsenal contract is set to expire at the end of the season. However, this allegedly isn’t the case.
The Germany international technically wouldn’t be able to talk with the Red Devils at this stage anyway. Although he can make contact with clubs outside of England in January.
The playmaker was thought to be staying at Arsenal since he said that he’d prefer to remain at the club during the Gunners’ pre-season tour; there was also very little talk of Ozil moving over the summer and reports that he’d actually renewed his box at the Emirates.
Since Arsene Wenger confirmed that talks over an extension had been put on hold, the media have gone to town.
However, the only clubs really linked with the star have been United, who are now said to not be interested, Inter Milan, who have also shot down the rumours after certain comments from their chairman Erick Thohir got lost in translation, Barcelona and Fenerbahce. And will the Turkish giants be able to afford his wages?