Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Mesut Ozil and Aleksandr Kokorin Rumours

Arsenal are bracing themselves for an approach from Real Madrid, after reports suggested the Spanish giants want to tempt Mesut Ozil back to La Liga. 

According to Spanish publication Don Balon (h/t Will Giles of Metro), Los Blancos want the German World Cup winner if Colombian superstar James Rodriguez opts to leave the Bernabeu. 

However, the Gunners are preparing a huge new deal for their midfielder, which will make Ozil the highest-paid player in the club's history.

Wayne Veysey of Football Insider said manager Arsene Wenger is drafting a £51.5 million contract for the impressive talent, whose form has exploded this season.

According to Veysey, the German's salary would rise to £180,000-per-week, and Arsenal hope this would satisfy Ozil's desire to remain in London. 

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Don Balon claimed the Galacticos "would be willing to pay a substantial fee" to recapture the player they sold to Arsenal for £42.4 million in 2013, per BBC Sport. Ozil joined Madrid from Werder Bremen for £12.4 million. He was a hugely popular figure at the club, often providing Cristiano Ronaldo with multiple assists. 

Wenger recently likened his playmaker to a "musician," as Ozil's consistency has hit new highs in 2015, per the club's official website (h/t Allan Valente of Sky Sports):

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Mesut is like a musician who always plays the right note, and at the right moment. His timing is perfect - when he has to give the ball, he gives the ball. It's just a pleasure to see.

It struck me [on first seeing him] that he was at such a young age, but the boy could time his passing always right. He got out of impossible situations.

Also what struck me was that it was not forced on an individual basis - the team play was in front of his ego.That strikes you because normally when players are that talented, that's not the first quality you see.

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ESPN FC's John Brewin said Ozil has grown in an Arsenal shirt, and he has finally adapted to the rigours of life in the English league, which can punish flair players from abroad:

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In the Premier League, where desire and effort are commodities valued above all others, Ozil's body language can count against him. A running style in which he ambles more than he sprints is all part of the deception that allows Ozil to find space and angles to create goals, even if it appears to the fans to be lazy.

Lately though, amid a crippling list of injuries, there has been an added determination in Ozil's gait. Sunderland's roughhouse approach had little impact on a player bent on augmenting and adding to his 12 assists in the Premier League this season, and Olympiakos's attempts to kill his influence were similarly shrugged off on Wednesday.

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Despite Madrid's interest, the club will likely have to look elsewhere as Ozil looks the happiest he has been on a football pitch since departing his former Spanish team.

Wenger has developed the player's tactical acumen, and he is now a balanced Premier League talent, rather than a luxury individual. 

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In other news, Arsenal could be on the verge of adding Aleksandr Kokorin to their attack, after reports claimed the striker will move to England.

Russian outlet Izvestia, (h/t Colin Harvey of the Daily Star) said "the deal is very close to being completed and should go through in January." The player's contract expires in the summer, opening up a reduced fee—which could be as small as £4.3 million. 

The Russian international's agent, Cyril Loginov, had previously hinted the player could be on the move in the January transfer window, and said, per Harvey: "Aleksandr, if all well informed, still has a chance [to move in the future] and not just to Arsenal."

Here is a video showing why Arsenal supporters will be excited by their potential new forward:

Kokorin would be a shrewd addition to the Gunners squad, and for the touted transfer fee, he represents incredible value.

Wenger has been questioned for not adding outfield players to his squad in the summer, but the opportunity now exists to add a genuine striker to the make up of his team.

The 24-year-old has developed at Dynamo Moscow, and he would add competition for the No. 9 position at the Emirates Stadium.

Olivier Giroud has been in the best form of his career in recent weeks, but if he gets injured, Arsenal's credentials as title challengers could evaporate. 

Kokorin would be an excellent insurance policy against this happening, and he would add goals in front of the Gunners' sumptuous midfield pack.