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Mesut Ozil

LONDON. — Barcelona have reportedly reached an agreement with Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil over a three-and-a-half year deal. Arsenal have been unable to agree to a contract renewal with Ozil and the German has now entered the final year. Arsene Wenger is ready to accept a deal to let Ozil join Barcelona in January – to make sure he doesn’t join Manchester United.

Ozil is out of contract in the summer and looks set to quit the Emirates. He has been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona after rejecting Arsenal’s contract offers. Arsenal put a £250 000-a-week package on the table but he is yet to agree it and all signs points towards him leaving the club.

And reports in Spain claim he has an agreement with Barca for a January move. While AS claim Wenger is ready to accept a January exit to Barcelona – if it is clear he will not renew his deal – to stop him joining Manchester United for free.In January, Ozil can sign a pre-contract agreement with another club to join them in the summer. But it appears the 29-year-old could leave in the new year.

Manchester United have been linked with signing Ozil, in a deal which would reunite him and Jose Mourinho. However, Barcelona have stolen a march on their rivals by holding talks with Ozil’s representatives. And Catalan reporter Quique Guasch told Spanish outlet Catalunya Radio that Ozil had agreed a three-and-a-half year contract and is expected to cost around £17.8million.

Ozil’s eligibility to play in the Champions League is understood to be a major factor in Barcelona’s desire to sign one of Europe’s top creative talents. Losing Ozil would represent a significant blow for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. On Saturday, Wenger had insisted Ozil and fellow contract rebel Alexis Sanchez wanted to stay at the Emirates.

He said: “I know them well and I know when these guys go on the pitch they want to win the game and they have shown that commitment again today.

“I never questioned their commitment. They can have bad games but the problem is when the player goes to the end of his contract, everyone says: ‘Of course.’ Their interest is to play anyway. “I am convinced they love the club, they love the team.” — The Daily Express