The summer transfer window is a testing time for clubs. 2018 is going to prove the toughest yet with the World Cup finals in Russia next June. For Premier League clubs, it will be harder still with the new earlier deadline for domestic deals.
The two Manchester clubs are set to act decisively by signing their targets on permanent deals for free as their Arsenal deals run down. While City take Alexis Sanchez to the Etihad, Manchester United intend to open negotiations to bring Mesut Özil to Old Trafford, according to the Daily Mirror.
The 28-year-old German international would reunite with his former boss, Jose Mourinho. While at Real Madrid, Özil was lauded by the Portuguese as the most technically gifted player he worked with.
When Florentino Perez sold him to Arsenal, there were protests during the subsequent unveiling of Gareth Bale, then the most expensive footballer in the world. Mourinho declared that Arsenal had signed a “unique” player and that Özil was the “best No.10 in the world.”
The Portuguese might find himself working with the German once more as there is little sign of the midfielder signing a new deal with Arsenal. SportsBild claimed that talks between Özil and the club had broken down, something Arsène Wenger refuted when he met the press ahead of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
However, the reports also declared Özil has told the Gunners that he wants to leave next summer which was something Wenger never commented on. While the Frenchman remains hopeful that he can persuade the magnificient midfielder to stay, the bookmakers are less confident with Manchester United clear favourites to sign Mesut Özil next summer.
