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Arsenal news: Unai Emery will SELL star in January on one condition - Charlie Nicholas
ARSENAL will allow Mesut Ozil to leave in January if his form does not pick up between now and then.
Arsenal fan rages over rumours that Ozil is linked to Fenerbahce
That is the opinion of ex-Arsenal striker turned Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.
Ozil has returned to the Gunners’ side in the Premier League after a reported falling out with new head coach Unai Emery last month.
The former Germany international has often been the subject of criticism during his five-year spell in north London.
However, he was rewarded with a bumper new contract in January to prevent him from leaving for free at the end of last season.
If this isn’t improved by January, and a decent offer comes in, Arsenal will let him go
Ozil is now the highest paid player in the history of the club on £350,000-a-week.
Turkish side Fenerbahce have been linked with signing the 29-year-old, though his wage could be a stumbling block.
But Nicholas reckons there will be a way around that and Arsenal could see Ozil depart in January.
“If this isn’t improved by January, and a decent offer comes in, Arsenal will let him go,” the Scot said.
“It keeps coming up that Fenerbahce and these sort of clubs would be interested in looking at him.
“I don’t know financially how they could do it, (perhaps) some of the Chinese money that has been floating about.
“There will be teams that are interested and I’ll tell you how it will end up working.
“It wouldn’t be a salary thing, it would be a big chunk of money that he would get and that would nurse the bruising that his salary would have to drop a bit.
“But the thing is, is he really that committed to it?
“I think we are starting to identify that the new manager, it’s taken him quite a bit of time, is getting on fine with him, but he will be saying ‘if you’re not playing well, you’ll be out the team’, and he will not accept that Ozil.”
Mesut Ozil and Arsenal are back in Premier League action tomorrow when they host Everton (4pm).
Emery's side are looking for a fifth consecutive win in all competitions.
Everton are aiming to bounce back from a shock 3-1 home defeat to West Ham last Sunday.