D.C. United isn’t wasting time trying to get another European star in the wake of Wayne Rooney’s departure from the club at the end of 2019. According to ESPN, D.C. is now targeting Arsenal’s star midfielder Mesut Ozil.
Reportedly, D.C. will meet with Ozil’s representatives on Monday and present them with an offer for the 30-year-old. Washington Post adds that presumed move would take place in January if the two sides manage to come to an agreement.
While there is a certain level of interest from Mesut Ozil to come to the United States, his astronomical salary might be too much for D.C. United to handle. Ozil signed a new deal with Arsenal in 2018 and is reportedly earning close to $22 million a year. If he was to come to MLS, he would probably have to take a massive pay cut.
Although Ozil leaving Europe might seem unlikely to some, the fact is that the German isn’t having the best relationship with Arsenal’s manager Unai Emery. He struggled to have a significant role in Emery’s system in 2018/19 which ended up reflecting on time spent on the field and his productivity.
Ozil played 24 games and recorded only 1,741 minutes last season in Premier League. He contributed with five goals, and only two assists, which was the lowest since he joined the club in 2013.
