Transfer Centre

Arsenal 'blocked Mesut Ozil exit on deadline day'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 01 February 2020

Mesut Ozil was reportedly the subject of a lucrative deadline-day offer from Qatar which Arsenal rejected due to their lack of a replacement for the playmaker.

Arsenal reportedly blocked a deadline-day exit for Mesut Ozil due to their lack of a replacement for the German playmaker.

Ozil's future has been the subject of consistent debate in recent years, particularly after falling down the pecking order under Unai Emery, but he has regained his place in the team since Mikel Arteta's arrival, starting each of the last six Premier League games.

However, The Mirror reports that Arsenal received an offer for the 31-year-old on deadline day and were willing to let him go if they were able to source a replacement.

The approach is understood to have come from Qatar, and both Ozil and Arteta were reportedly open to sanctioning the deal after the unnamed club offered to match the midfielder's wages.

The bid came too close to the 11pm transfer deadline, though, leaving Arsenal with no time to bring in a replacement, which ultimately led to the proposed deal falling through.

Arsenal had reportedly earmarked Dani Olmo and Yannick Carrasco as possible replacements for the former Germany international, but both players had secured moves elsewhere before the Gunners could pounce.