Arsenal and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil could join Turkish side Fenerbahce at the end of the season, as talks over a transfer have already been held.
Turkish publication Fotospor are reporting that the player's representatives met with an intermediary from Fenerbahce recently, and the Super Lig side were also informed by the Gunners that their asking price is set at £42m.
Ozil, who joined Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2013, is also of Turkish origin, and has made no secret of his support for Fenerbahce.
“Everyone knows I am a Fenerbahçe fan,” he once said to Turkish source Sabah.
The playmaker speaks fluent Turkish and regularly appears on Turkish TV shows. There is even a street named after him in the town of Devrek in the Zonguldak province, the place his parents are from.
It is said that a source recently spoke with Turkish-football.com and informed them of Ozil's search for property in Istanbul.
The player has lost popularity with a large section of the Arsenal support, but the club's former player Robert Pires believes that the criticism is unfair.
"I think the treatment of Mesut is wrong," said the Frenchman, who now works with Arsenal as a coach. "Of course footballers will get criticism, but I think the criticism towards him has been over the top.
Mesut Ozil is an incredibly important footballer for Arsenal, Arsene Wenger and the team.
"One thing I want to pick up on is fans calling Mesut Ozil lazy. Seriously, it’s crazy – this is a massive misconception.
"He wants to work hard, he wants to do the dirty work for the team because he’s a winner. I don’t agree with fans who make these claims."
The Guy Is Not Lazy But Only Lacking Apartner In The Caliber Of Cazorla
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