Mesut Ozil set to open talks on move to Barcelona with his Arsenal deal set to expire
Gunners midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but is allowed to talk to other clubs at the start of 2018
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MESUT OZIL is ready to talk terms with Barcelona.
The Spanish giants are serious about swooping for the Arsenal star — giving Arsene Wenger a dilemma over cashing in during the January window.
Ozil, 29, can open talks with Barca on New Year’s Day as his contract finishes in the summer.
And the German favours a move back to La Liga, where he played for Real Madrid before joining the Gunners.
Paris Saint-Germain are one of the few clubs that can afford the £330,000-a-week wages that come with getting him on a free at the end of the season.
Manchester United are also in the running for Ozil, with Fenerbahce admitting defeat in their ambitious attempts to take him to Turkey.
Manager Wenger admitted last week that Ozil’s love for the Gunners may not be enough to keep him at the club.
Ozil was man of the match in their 2-0 win against rivals Tottenham — and Wenger highlighted his commitment despite having less than a season on his contract.
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Barca view Ozil as an alternative to Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho after they tried to sign the Brazilian in a £114million deal, with another £20m-a-year in wages.
Now they could try to tempt Wenger into a cut-price sale when the transfer window opens again.
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The Frenchman insisted last summer that fellow contract rebel Alexis Sanchez was not for sale.
But Wenger appeared willing to do business with Manchester City before the clock ran out on the deal.
Meanwhile, Wenger has agreed a fresh contract with highly rated striker Eddie Nketiah, 18.
He scored twice in their Carabao Cup win against Norwich and landed a four-year deal to net him just under £20,000 a week.