Mesut Ozil would be welcomed back at Schalke with open arms, but the German giants admit a move for the Arsenal playmaker is impossible this summer.
The 29-year-old, whose contract at the Emirates expires next summer, came through the youth academy at Schalke, making 39 appearances for the Gelsenkirchen side before moving to Werder Bremen.
Ozil left Schalke under something of a cloud, refusing to sign a new contract and falling out with club management. However that would not stop the two from reuniting at least a decade after first parting.
“I still have a great relationship with Mesut,” the head of Schalke’s supervisory board, Clemens Tonnies, told Kicker. “We would definitely consider it [a return]. If it fits for both sides, it would be nice.
“The player could say that he returns to his roots, and that he plays football in this stadium and for those fans and the region once again. But it will certainly not happen next season.”
Manchester United and Inter Milan are among the clubs considering a more immediate move for Ozil on the expiration of his contract.
Though Arsenal are prepared to offer him £250,000-a-week to extend his current deal, progress in talks between Ozil and the club have been slow, with Arsene Wenger last week setting a deadline of next month for a breakthrough.
However the Arsenal manager offered an optimistic assessment of the chances of both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez extending their contracts after the pair starred in the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
“I am convinced that they love the club and they love the team,” he told Standard Sport.
“All the rest will be decided [soon]. When? I don’t really know. I’m not alone in mastering that.”
