Dan Mountney
Mesut Ozil's Arsenal future is looking increasingly uncertain with the club yet to offer an extension to his contract that expires next summer.
The German playmaker is one of the Gunners’ longest-serving players, having joined in 2013 for a £42.4million fee from La Liga giants Real Madrid.
ESPN claim that the German was told he could leave the club last summer having endured a difficult relationship with former boss Unai Emery.
Despite the Spaniard's sacking and Ozil's revival under new head coach Mikel Arteta - starting all 10 Premier League games since his December appointment - it is understood that club's stance over his future has not changed.
The 31-year-old signed a new £350,000-a-week deal in January 2018, with Arsenal under pressure having already lost star man Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.
The Gunners shattered their wage structure to keep Ozil, and the arrivals of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in that same month have left the club struggling to manage their wage bill.
Ozil could leave this summer on a free transfer
Ozil's salary far exceeds that of anyone else at the Emirates - with Aubameyang's reported £200,000-a-week contract making him the next best earner - and his inability to justify that wage led to his marginalised role under Emery.
With Arsenal's new policy of selling players who are unwilling to commit their futures to the club before they enter the final year of their contracts, the German could leave the club this summer or on a free in just over 12 months time.
Although Ozil has not agitated for a move away from the Emirates, his age and salary could see the club decide to move him on as Arteta looks to build a long-term project in north London.
If the decision is taken to move the playmaker on this summer that wage could become a stumbling block, with a number of interested clubs last summer - including Inter Milan and AC Milan - struggling to match his current salary.
If Ozil was to leave this summer, it would bring to an end a near seven-year spell in N5 having arriving from the Bernabeu in September 2013 i.
He has gone on to make 184 Premier League appearances and helped the club win three FA Cups, but has often found himself criticised for a perceived lack of effort and contribution despite his quality.
