Mesut Ozil Transfer Reportedly Eyed by Jose Mourinho Amid Arsenal Exit Rumours

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is keeping a close eye on Mesut Ozil's situation at Arsenal with a view to a potential move this summer.

That's according to Charles Watts of Football.London, who noted that the Red Devils are interested in the Germany international. Ozil's contract status at the Emirates Stadium has triggered plenty of speculation over his future, with his deal set to expire at the end of next season.

According to Watts, the 28-year-old has "shown no sign of extending his stay in north London" and Mourinho is hoping to capitalise on that impasse. The Portuguese manager worked alongside Ozil at Real Madrid.

Bayern Munich are also said to be keen on signing the German, and Watts stated that Carlo Ancelotti's side "believe they are in pole position to win the race for Ozil."

The man himself has had his say on his contract negotiations recently, telling Bild am Sonntag he remains "open" to a new deal at the Emirates Stadium (h/t ESPN).

In the same interview, he also noted his future is not dependent on Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the season:

Losing Ozil would be a blow for Arsenal, as he is undoubtedly one of the most gifted attacking midfielders in the Premier League. However, losing him to United would be an especially bitter pill to swallow.

Perhaps it's not beyond the realms of possibility, though. After all, five years ago, Arsenal sanctioned the sale of Robin van Persie, who had one year left on his contract at the Emirates, to the Red Devils; the Dutchman went on to fire Manchester United to the Premier League title.

ANDREW YATES/Getty Images

It's debatable whether Ozil would have quite as dramatic an impact, although he would certainly add a different dimension to United's play. Here's how he compares with United creators Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this season in the top flight:

	Mata	Mkhitaryan	Ozil
Apps (Sub)	15 (6)	10 (5)	21 (1)
Goals	6	3	5
Assists	2	1	4
Shots per game	1.7	1.9	1.5
Key passes per game	1.7	1.7	2.8
Dribbles per game	0.6	1.3	1

Looking at his deficiencies—a lack of physicality and defensive aptitude—Ozil doesn't immediately come across as a Mourinho player. 

Indeed, the player revealed in his autobiography, The Magic of the Game, that the United manager called him a "coward" during a heated half-time exchange in Madrid (h/t Marca). However, Ozil stated that "I hated him, even though I actually adored him" at the time of the row.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

The coach has been effusive in his praise of the Arsenal man in the past too, calling him "the best No. 10 in the world," per Watts.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones suggested the Gunners and Ozil could benefit from a parting of ways:

If Mourinho were to link up with Ozil again, it'd be fascinating to see how he was utilised. The German's arrival would mean United would have to line up with a natural No. 10, although this term the Red Devils have played their best football in a 4-3-3 setup. The tweak would potentially have a knock-on effect for the likes of Paul Pogba, Mkhitaryan and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

However, it'd be a surprise if Arsenal decided to sell Ozil to United, even if it meant losing him for nothing in a year's time. There's been unrest developing at the Emirates in recent weeks because of the team's underperformance, and another Van Persie-esque episode is the last thing the club needs.