Will Ozil join Barcelona?
(Baonghean.vn) - According to information from Don Balon, the Camp Nou team intends to recruit Arsenal midfielder Ozil in the upcoming winter transfer window (January 2018).
Despite an incredibly impressive start to the season, coach Valverde is still not reassured about the team's personnel situation.
Expensive signing Dembele has been sidelined with a long-term injury, Suarez is out of form, and Iniesta and Rakitic have also shown a clear decline in performance...
Barcelona's attack still relies heavily on Messi's brilliance. Without quickly bringing in a quality star to share the workload with Messi, Barcelona risks running out of steam towards the end of the season.
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| Barcelona are facing difficulties in the Coutinho transfer. Photo: Internet |
The top target for the Camp Nou management is Liverpool midfielder Coutinho. Throughout the summer transfer window, Barcelona repeatedly sent offers to Anfield, but they were all decisively rejected.
Faced with Liverpool's firm stance, President Bartomeu and his associates were forced to switch to Plan B. The stars targeted by the Barcelona leadership included: Fekir (Lyon), Eriksen (Tottenham), and Ozil (Arsenal).
Considering all factors, the German player is the most feasible target. There's no doubt about Ozil's quality. If Barcelona can bring the Arsenal midfielder to Camp Nou, their attack will be like a tiger with added wings. With his exceptional creative abilities, Ozil will significantly reduce the burden on Messi's shoulders. His time playing in La Liga for Real Madrid also provides an advantage, allowing the midfielder born in 1988 to adapt quickly to a new environment. |
Furthermore, Ozil's transfer fee is quite reasonable. His contract with Arsenal will officially expire at the end of this season. Barcelona are completely in control of the price, unlike in the case of Coutinho. If the Camp Nou team seriously negotiates with Arsenal, the deal is highly likely to succeed. This would prevent them from losing him for free or watching Ozil join their rival, Manchester United (who also want to sign Ozil).
In the past, the Catalan giants have been successful in signing players like Henry and Fabregas... There's no reason why they can't lure Ozil away from the Emirates Stadium. The German player himself wants to leave Arsenal as soon as possible. Contract negotiations between Ozil and the Gunners are at a standstill as the two sides cannot reach an agreement. Furthermore, Arsenal's chances of winning a title this season are quite slim, leaving Ozil with little motivation to stay at the Emirates.
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| Midfielder Ozil is looking to leave Arsenal. Photo: Internet |
Moreover, the 29-year-old player has frequently suffered unfair criticism from Arsenal legends and fans. Choosing to leave is the wisest decision for Ozil to salvage his career and secure a place in the German national team for the 2018 World Cup, a position that has been showing signs of uncertainty recently. The question is whether Ozil wants to become a rival of Real Madrid. Don't forget, this very player once refused to play for his home country Turkey to serve the German national team.
One noteworthy detail is that if Barcelona sign Ozil, they will be able to register him for the next stage of the 2017/2018 Champions League. This is a significant advantage for the 1988-born star compared to Coutinho (Liverpool) and Eriksen (Tottenham). According to UEFA regulations, players who have already played in the Champions League group stage cannot be registered for the knockout stage with another team in the same season. Therefore, Ozil would be eligible to play for Barcelona in the Champions League knockout rounds.
In short, Barcelona's eagerness to sign Ozil means he will certainly respond immediately. With both parties needing to buy and each needing to arrive, the deal has a very high chance of success.
Thanh Hung
