Arsenal Transfer News: Mesut Ozil Contract Planned, Fenerbahce Rumours Confirmed

Arsenal are planning to offer Mesut Ozil a new contract amid confirmation from the player's agent that Turkish club Fenerbahce are eager to sign the German next summer.

According to MailOnline's Sami Mokbel, Ozil is to be offered an improvement on his current £140,000-a-week deal—he is the top earner at the club—to extend his stay at the Emirates.

The Germany international is already contracted to the club until 2018, having signed a five-year contract upon his £42.4 million move from Real Madrid in 2013.

But the Gunners will be eager to tie him down to an extended deal as soon as possible to ward off any suitors that may otherwise come in for him.

He has been heavily linked with Fenerbahce recently, and his representative, Erkut Sogut, revealed the interest is genuine but suggested Ozil is eager to stay on in north London, per Turkish outlet Radyospor (h/t Will Giles in Metro): 

"

Yes, Fenerbahce wants to sign Mesut Ozil. However, the main thing is he wants Arsenal. Arsenal will make a decision at the end of the season. However, it is very difficult to predict in advance that decision. If Arsenal agrees to the transfer, Fenerbahce will be a serious option for us.

"

The 26-year-old Ozil is of Turkish descent and has admitted previously he would one day like to turn out for Fenerbahce, per Turkish newspaper Sabah (h/t Mark Critchley in the Independent): "In the future I want to wear a Fenerbahce shirt. It would be an honour. Everyone knows I am a Fenerbahce fan."

However, with Ozil still in his prime, an imminent move to Turkey is clearly not at the forefront of his mind, and Arsenal should succeed in tying him to a new contract.

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His arrival from Real was met with great fanfare two years ago, but he has since failed to consistently show the form of which he is capable.

Despite that, Ozil remains one of Arsenal's most creative players, and he has already provided 23 goalscoring chances in the league this season, per ESPN FC's Andrew Mangan.

His impact is arguably diminished by Arsenal's lack of top-quality finishers, with Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott all having been wasteful in front of goal this season, according to Opta (via Sky Sports' Nick Wright): 

Ozil remains one of Arsenal's best players, and he deserves the offer of a new contract as he continues to do a job for his side.

He could benefit from having better players around him, but that is a different area Gunners manager Arsene Wenger needs to address.