FC Barcelona’s midfield overhaul update – Mesut Ozil and Isco

Mesut Ozil on Barcelona’s radar as short-term successor to Iniesta

The Germany and Arsenal star has been having problems with the management at the Emirates. Mesut Ozil has refused to sign a new deal and his current contract expires in 2018, paving the way for clubs to swoop in on him. Teammate and former Barcelona player Alexis Sanchez are also at loggerheads with the Arsenal directors, who want to give them new contracts. This might cause problems for the club, as they are risking losing three of their pillars in 2018 – Arsene Wenger, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. They must be worried about Ozil, surely, for Barcelona are in the fray for his signature.

The idea of Mesut Ozil, a former Real Madrid player joining Barcelona will repulse some Barca fans. And it will not be a realistic transfer in any way. But it will be beneficial for the club. Iniesta is going to decline in the coming years, and the club will need to brace for that impact. Currently, his technical skills are sound but a man turning 33 cannot be very fit. He gets fatigued very quickly and often has to be taken off early. He is starting to make way for the likes of Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez. But neither are them can shoulder the responsibility of controlling the Barca midfield as a starter.

The move

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But Mesut Ozil can. Ozil is probably the third best playmaker in the world, after Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric. He is a World Cup winner with Germany and Arsenal splashed out their record transfer fee for him. And boy, has he repaid them with good performances. And that, coupled with his current contract situation has attracted the attention of Robert Fernandez. He is in his prime would be the perfect short-term successor to Iniesta, giving time to Andre Gomes and Denis Suarez to mature and grow.

According to Sport, some executives from Robert’s team has contacted Ozil’s agents over a potential summer move. They stated that Barcelona may make an offer for him if he fails to agree on a new deal with Arsenal. But according to sources close to Arsenal, the negotiations to renew the deals of Ozil and Alexis are ongoing. They are slow because of the insane amounts of money they have demanded. But if the negotiations fail, we might be seeing Mesut Ozil pull on a Barcelona shirt. It will be crazy economically as Barca are in a precarious financial but would be in the best interests of the club. But revenues might increase with the Rakuten and Nike deals going through.