Mesut Ozil’s seven and a half year stint at Arsenal is expected to end after the two parties reach an agreement in principle to get him off his contract.
The 32-year-old has not played for the Gunners since March and his £ 350,000 weekly contract expired at the end of the current season.
However, the PA news agency believes both parties have almost agreed to tear up the final months of his contract.
Ozil was expected to be eliminated in the January transfer window and would be able to sign for another club as a free agent should the final details go smoothly.
Mesut Ozil has scored 44 goals since joining Real Madrid’s Arsenal in 2013 (Bradley Collyer / PA)
Major League Soccer’s DC United was heavily linked with a move for the former Germany international but Fenerbahce are now set to lead the race for Ozil.
The Athletic reports that a deal could be closed this weekend. Ozil is scheduled to visit Turkey to finalize the details.
After starting the first 10 games under Mikel Arteta after his appointment in December 2019, Ozil has not been seen since a 1-0 win against West Ham before the soccer pandemic brought soccer to a standstill.
He was banned from Arsenal’s Premier League and Europa League squads, and Arteta and technical director Edu insisted the decision was made on footballing grounds.
Ozil was criticized in a number of areas for refusing to cut a salary over the summer due to no football being played and Arsenal trying to balance the books.
He had signed his current contract in January 2018 to become the highest-paid player in the club’s history, but now he is expected to leave for free.
.
