Arsenal Transfer News: Mesut Ozil Contract Rumours Discussed by Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it is not only an increase in wages that will be needed to persuade Mesut Ozil to pen a new contract at the Emirates Stadium but conviction that the Gunners can fight for the Premier League title.

The Frenchman insisted the German playmaker is eager to stay at Arsenal but that the north London club need to prove they can be truly competitive in the English top flight in 2016-17, per Riath Al-Samarrai of the Daily Mail:

"

I don't think he needs convincing. He wants to stay here. If you have a good bank, call me. 

It's not just money. Arsenal can win titles of course. But that's what we have to show. 

We are in a league where Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, everybody fights and you cannot guarantee that.

"

Ozil, 28, has less than two years to run on his current contract, and German publication Bild suggested he could be open to a return to Real Madrid—the club he left for Arsenal in 2013—in order to win more silverware (via Tom Sheen in the Sun).

He has won two FA Cups during his three full seasons with Arsenal, but the Gunners have not got close to genuinely challenging for the Premier League or made it past the last 16 in the UEFA Champions League in that time.

Per Al-Samarrai, Arsenal are likely going to have to break their wage structure in order to tie Ozil to extended terms, as he is reportedly demanding around £200,000 per week—a significant increase on his current £140,000-per-week wages.

They are moving in the right direction in terms of challenging for the title, jumping to second place in the Premier League table on Saturday thanks to a 3-2 home win against Swansea City—their sixth top-flight win on the bounce.

Ozil was vital to the victory, as he netted Arsenal's third goal, his third of the season.

In 2015-16, Ozil established himself as one of the Premier League's best players, as he delivered 19 assists to put him among Europe's top providers, per Squawka:

However, he only netted six league goals—a tally he is already halfway to matching after just eight games of the new campaign.

If he can add prolific goalscoring to his armoury, then not only would he be worthy of his reported wage demands, but he could also propel Arsenal to the title.

In recent seasons, the Gunners have been a consummate nearly team, always in the top four but never mounting a proper title challenge.

In the likes of Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, they have the attacking quality to win the Premier League, and summer additions such as Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi should shore up their defence.

If they prolong their form and make a title tilt this season, Ozil would surely pen a new deal and remain at the Emirates.

However, another failure to maintain a challenge for major silverware until the end of the season could see Arsenal lose a player who is vital to them meeting their aspirations.