La Liga giants Barcelona are plotting a January swoop for Mesut Ozil as an alternative to Philippe Coutinho, but the German star has told the Catalans he will only sign for them if his wage demands are met, as revealed by Spanish daily 'As'.
With his contract at the Emirates coming to an inevitable end next summer and with no extension on the horizon, Mesut Ozil has plenty of suitors across Europe.
However, his salary may stand in the way of many potential clubs interested in the German. After Barcelona considered a £17 million swoop for the Arsenal star, the Catalans were shocked to hear Ozil is expecting an income of €19 million gross per week as well as a sizeable signing-on bonus.
Currently locked in negotiations over Lionel Messi's contract renewal, which reportedly takes up 84 per cent of the club's planned outlay, Barcelona remain interested in Ozil. To make room on their wage bill for Messi's pay hike and Ozil's signing, the Catalans are prepared to offload Arda Turan, who is the sixth-highest earner in Valverde's squad..
Arsene Wenger has received no indication from Ozil that he wishes to extend his stay at the Emirates, and the French manager will do everything in his hands to avoid allowing a player he signed for £42.5 million walk out the door for free.