Arsenal Transfer News: Shock Mesut Ozil to Manchester City Rumours Emerge

Arsenal fans will be concerned to read reports that Manchester City are circling the signature of Mesut Ozil, hoping to poach yet another star from the Emirates Stadium.

According to Fichajes.net (h/t Metro), Manuel Pellegrini has "ordered" his club to purchase the German marvel in January, with Yaya Toure expected to leave the Etihad Stadium in 2015:

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City have been linked with a £32 million move for Ozil in the last few days, with the Gunners believed to be ready to cash in on the German. And now reports say City boss Pellegrini has personally asked the club to sign Ozil in the new year, with Ivory Coast star Toure looking likely to leave.

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It's well-founded that City have capitalised greatly on any doubts in Arsenal's dressing room in the past, taking the likes of Samir Nasri, Gael Clichy and most recently Bacary Sagna out of their north London setting.

If Ozil were to join the reigning Premier League champions, his departure would stand as perhaps the most painful of the lot for fans, although Metro does report Arsenal are willing to sell.

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Since arriving at the Emirates in a £42.5 million deal last summer, English audiences have come to see both the best and worst of Ozil. The midfield dynamo is undoubtedly capable of wonders, but he can also be found wanting at times.

Opta's Orbinho delves deeper into the hot-and-cold nature of the 26-year-old's game since arriving from Real Madrid in 2013:

However severe one's opinion of Ozil may be, it's difficult to imagine the Gunners agreeing that their player's price tag has dropped by an eye-watering £10 million over the past 12 months.

The deal is also complicated by the fact Ozil is currently sidelined with a knee ligament injury, per BBC Sport, which could keep him out of action until late December, recovery rate pending.

Wenger said: "He is out for a while now, I think at least six weeks." However, the German Football Association estimated the absence as being somewhere closer to 12 weeks.

It's also true that Ozil and Toure represent very different characteristics in the Manchester City mould. While the Ivorian is able to thrive in his bullish, central role, Ozil requires more acute attention in finding his attacking midfield role.

Pellegrini does have alternative engine-room options, however. Between them, Fernandinho, Fernando, James Milner, along with the capable David Silva and Samir Nasri, could still do damage from that area.

Given the north Londoners have won just two of their nine Premier League games this season, weakening the squad will be the last thing on the agenda of any Arsenal fan.

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To agree such a sale, regardless of Ozil's current form, would be a lousy statement of the club's intentions to contend with their Premier League peers.

As we've so often seen in recent years, however, logic doesn't always prove to be the sole factor in top-flight football, and the Gunners will once again be on their transfer window toes with City creeping.