Bundesliga club Werder Bremen have told long-term Arsenal target Mesut Ozil that he has until March to sign a new contract at the Weserstadion or face being sold in the summer. Worried that the player is stalling on contract negotiations and fearing he could leave the club on a free, general manager Klaus Allofs made clear that the German international should declare his intentions.
The diminutive playmaker recently broke into the German national team and has been instrumental in helping Joachim Loew’s side to next year’s World Cup.
With his current contract set to end in 18 months, and with the prospect of being able to sign a pre-contract agreement in the aftermath of a possible starring role at this summer’s showpiece international tournament, it is understood that Ozil is deliberately stalling on a new four year offer from his current contractors.
"In the course of the next few months we need to hold discussions. We cannot simply allow him to go free in the last year of his contract,“ said Allofs at Werder’s winter training camp in Dubai.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is thought to be one of several top European coaches interested in recruiting a player labeled the ‘new Stefan Effenberg’ in certain quarters of the press.
With defence unlocking passes in his locker, combative tackling and a dynamic and determined dribbler, Ozil has been deemed to possess similar qualities to current Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas and could be the ideal replacement for the Spaniard should he quit the Emirates for a return to La Liga at the end of the season.