Mesut Ozil rises to second in Premier League wage table with bumper £300,000-per-week deal... while new Arsenal team mate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang does not crack top 10

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Until January 31, the Premier League money men were unquestionably the two Manchester clubs. Manchester City and Manchester United have thrown millions of pounds in wages at players in order to secure the choicest targets. 

Going into transfer deadline day, the Premier League top two had between them the eight best paid players in the top flight.

However, Arsenal have flexed their financial muscle in order to keep Mesut Ozil at the club, with a bumper three-and-a-half year deal worth £300,000 per week.

Arsenal have flexed their financial muscle in order to keep Mesut Ozil at the club

Ozil's teased his new three-and-a-half year deal worth £300,000 with this Instagram post

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not in the pay top 10, despite getting £180,000 at Arsenal

The extraordinary contract breaks the Mancunian pay duopoly, and makes Ozil the second best paid player in the Premier League. 

Such is the size of Ozil's contract - not yet confirmed by Arsenal but reported across Europe, and teased by the player himself on social media - that it means that his new team mate, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is not in the pay top 10.

Aubameyang arrived from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day after weeks of speculation and talks, for a club record fee of £56m. 

The best paid footballer in England is Alexis Sanchez, on £350,000 at Manchester United

The striker signed a £180,000 per week contract, equal with Virgil van Dijk's deal at Liverpool after his mammoth £75m move from Southampton. Such is the mind-boggling state of Premier league wages, however, they are only the joint-11th best paid players in the league.

The best paid footballer in England is Alexis Sanchez who, like Ozil, seemed destined to leave Arsenal when his contract expired in the summer.

Unlike Ozil, however, Sanchez jumped ship early for Manchester United, where he will earn £50,000 a week more than his former team mate.

West Brom make an unexpected appearance in the top 20 after signing Daniel Sturridge

The top 20 best paid players has seen some shifts and changes in the past month - Philippe Coutinho was formerly in the top 10, but left Liverpool for Barcelona.

Ross Barkley is a new entrant in the top 20, after agreeing a £150,000 contract at Chelsea following his £15m switch from Everton.

West Bromwich Albion also make an unexpected appearance on the list below, having agreed to take on Daniel Sturridge's £150,000-per-week wages for the rest of the season after he joined on loan from Liverpool.