Inter cool Ozil interest and switch attention to PSG star
Inter Milan will turn their attention to PSG midfielder Javier Pastore, after interest in Arsenal's Mesut Ozil cooled because of his high wage demands.
Sporting director Piero Ausilio has confirmed Inter will not be making a January offer for Ozil, whose contract expires in 2018, as he does not expect Arsenal to cash in on their star playmaker.
Ozil will be allowed to speak to foreign clubs in January if he fails to extend his Emirates contract before then, and speculation regarding his future was heightened when Inter’s president Erick Thohir confirmed the club were “looking" at the German World Cup winner.
Ausilio, however, has brushed those rumours to one side. Speaking before Inter's 2-1 win over Benevento, he told 'Premium Sport':
“We are studying our squad, we have scouts everywhere and they look at every kind of player. I don’t think players like him [Ozil] will be leaving in January.
“Luciano Spalletti knows this team has room from improvement, that’s what we are working on.
“A new centre-back? We are looking for new opportunities but we have D’Ambrosio and other Primavera team players.”
Italian news outlet 'Calciomercato', claims Spalletti will now turn his attention to Pastore. The PSG midfielder's contract runs out in 2019, but Inter believe they could tempt him away from the French capital in January.