Arsenal Transfer News: Mesut Ozil Linked to Real Madrid Amid Contract Rumours

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil could reportedly leave the club for Real Madrid unless the Gunners meet two specific demands the German is making in negotiations over a new contract.

According to Bild (via Jack Rathborn of ESPN.co.uk), as well as an increased wage packet—which could be a club-record £200,000 per week—Ozil wants to take the No. 10 shirt and has also demanded guarantees that Arsenal will spend big in upcoming transfer markets in order to compete for the biggest prizes. 

Jack Wilshere vacated the No. 10 shirt at the Emirates Stadium upon his loan move to Bournemouth in August, while Arsenal flexed their muscles to an extent in the most recent summer transfer window, bringing in Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi for a combined £70 million.

Ozil clearly wants the spending to continue in order to commit his future to Arsenal.

Per Rathborn's report, while Ozil is happy at Arsenal and open to signing a new deal, he is a "big admirer" of what manager Zinedine Zidane is doing at Real and would be prepared to return to his old club if the Gunners don't pledge to match his ambition. 

Since his £42.5 million move from Real to Arsenal in 2013, Ozil has twice lifted the FA Cup but barely come close to winning the Premier League or UEFA Champions League. 

For a player with Ozil's pedigree, that is not good enough. But with a team built around the 27-year-old Germany international, Arsenal do have the potential to compete for football's major gongs.

Season	Appearances (as a sub)	Minutes	Goals	Assists	Shots per Game	Pass-Completion Percentage
2016-17	4(1)	357	2	0	1	90.3
2015-16	35	3,049	6	19	1.4	86.3
2014-15	21(1)	1,860	4	5	1.3	88.3
2013-14	25(1)	2,150	5	9	1.2	88

Ozil last season established himself as one of the Premier League's top players, as he provided 19 assists and scored six goals. He has continued his fine form in 2016-17, netting twice already, per WhoScored.com.

Arsenal will be desperate to tie him down to a new contract, as his deal only runs until 2018, and talks have reportedly been ongoing since late last year, per ESPN FC's Mark Rodden.

Far from holding Arsenal to ransom, it seems Ozil simply wants guarantees that the Gunners will be fighting for trophies in the future.

Given his quality, Ozil deserves such assurances, and his remaining at the club would go a long way toward making ambition a reality.