Manchester United Transfer News: Mesut Ozil Move by Jose Mourinho, Fresh Rumours

Manchester United could capitalise on Arsenal's failure to tie Mesut Ozil down to a new contract after it was reported Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho is preparing a move for the Germany playmaker. 

The Sun's Mark Irwin wrote Ozil and the Gunners are currently stalled in their negotiations over a new deal, and United are ready to swoop with a more lucrative offer for the maestro, whose contract expires in 2018.

With a little more than 18 months remaining on his contract, Ozil boasts a lot of bargaining power at the Emirates Stadium as he seeks a significant increase on his £140,000-a-week wages.

Those figures already make Ozil the highest-paid player at the north London club, but former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy recently voiced his lack of faith in the player's abilities, despite his major earnings:

It's said Arsenal have opened negotiations on a new deal worth £160,000 per week, but United are prepared to offer the 28-year-old a salary worth £250,000 per week, almost double his current earnings.

TalkSport's Adrian Durham is another pundit who doesn't necessarily buy into the hype that's built around Ozil since his Premier League arrival in 2013, albeit after winning Arsenal's Player of the Season award for 2015-16:

Mourinho already splashed heavily on his midfield in the summer by re-signing Paul Pogba from Juventus for a world-record sum of £89 million, as well as drafting in Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who can occupy the No. 10 role when required.

Juan Mata has also succeeded more than some might have anticipated under the new manager, but with a big-money offer on the table, Ozil could be considered an upgrade on the Spaniard, who was sold by Mourinho while at Chelsea.

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Mata recently opened up on a tense summer of speculation linking him with the Old Trafford exit amid speculation Mourinho could have shifted the playmaker for the second time in his career.

The former Valencia maestro was once again associated with a departure following Mourinho's arrival, but Mata suggested he's eager to move on from the past and look to a brighter future, per Charles Perrin of the Daily Express:

"

I want to continue to do the talking on the pitch after a strange summer, with so many things that came out that were false.

I'm enjoying myself on the pitch and things are going well for me.

I've had a good month and I want to continue to showcase my talent on the pitch.

"

Mata has started in seven of his nine Premier League appearances this season and looks to be an important cog in the Manchester United lineup, despite previous speculation Mourinho might have shifted the midfielder again.

The 28-year-old has scored twice and has an assist to his name in that time frame, and the Old Trafford fan favourite doesn't appear likely to be forced into changing employers anytime soon.