Wage demands driving Ozil towards Arsenal exit

 

Arsenal will be forced to sell star midfielder Mesut Ozil if he does not lower his wage demands, reports The Daily Telegraph.

 

Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have entered the final 18 months of his existing deals and both have been locked in contract talks with the Gunners all season, although wage demands have proved the major stumbling block so far.

 

The Germany international is currently the highest paid player at Arsenal, earning £140,000-a-week but it is rumoured that both players are demanding as much as £384,000-a-week and neither will settle for less money than the other.

 

Arsenal are understood to only be able to afford to pay £288,000-a-week but that right would only be reserved for one player and not both, which has left them in an awkward situation as interest circles around both of their star assets.

 

Wage demands driving Ozil towards Arsenal exit

 

While the Gunners do not want to sell either player, Arsenal would reluctantly listen to big offers for Ozil if the former Real Madrid star does not sign a contract extension by the start of next season.

 

Since joining Arsenal in 2013, Ozil has registered at least six more assists than any other player in the Premier League (35).

 

For more stats on Mesut Ozil, click here to visit his WhoScored player page