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Edu hints at Mesut Ozil Arsenal payoff

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 14 December 2020

Arsenal technical director Edu hints that the club are trying to reach an agreement with Mesut Ozil and his agent over his situation at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal's technical director has revealed that the club are in talks with Mesut Ozil and his agent to try to reach an agreement over the playmaker's future.

The ex-Germany international is spending is final few months as a Gunner watching on from home after being left out of Mikel Arteta's Premier League and Champions League squads.

Ozil has previously insisted that he will see out the remainder of his Arsenal deal, but Edu has now hinted that the midfielder's departure is getting closer following conversations with the player's representatives.

In quotes attributed to The Mirror, Edu said: "I talked to him, Mikel talked to his agent, I talked to his agent about some possibilities, not fighting, just some things to try and help each other. The way we see his future at the club, the way we see him here. It's quite clear.

"What makes me feel comfortable, which we treat the situation, man to man, no-one hides anything, and Mikel explained to you guys a lot.

"People might start to ask: 'what are you going to do in the winter window?' Of course we will try to do something but, listen, we have the responsibility to change it. Don't wait for someone outside to come inside and be a magician because that's not going to happen.

"Or if you can sign 20 players - which we're not going to do - but that's not going to work anyway. So the main problem, the main thing for me, is that we, as a club, has to understand our problem. Here. That's it. Believe, because we believe. I believe.

"If you see our squad, to be fair, we have a strong squad. A fit Thomas, if Willian starts to perform like he always performs. If Lacazette, Aubameyang. If you see our squad, we are strong, but they depend on us.

"Why people have to expect a magician to go 'boom! Come here, Messi! Boom!' No. It depends on us. No, we have to take this responsibility, it's not about me, not about Mikel, it's not Leno, it's not Laca, it's our responsibility to change it."

Ozil is yet to take to the field for Arsenal this season, but the 32-year-old could be recalled to the fold in January.