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Midfielder ready to join Arsenal on lucrative deal after talks with Wenger
According to reports in Turkey via Football London, Oguzhan Ozyakup is edging closer to rejoining Arsenal on a lucrative contract after holding talks with Arsene Wenger.
Ozyakup joined Arsenal’s youth academy in 2008 and progressed through the system before making his first team debut against Shrewsbury Town in the League Cup back in 2011.
However, the youngster failed to establish himself as part of Wenger’s plans as he only managed two cup appearances before being sold to Besiktas for €500,000 in 2012.
The 25-year-old has flourished in Turkey as Ozyakup has played over 200 times to help Besiktas win two Super Lig titles while he’s also represented Turkey 30 times at international level.
But his future is in serious doubt as the midfielder’s contract is due to expire in June and he’s free to discuss terms with foreign clubs ahead of a potential free transfer move this summer.
Wenger has continued to monitor his progress over the past few years and it seems the boss has now formalised his interest in bringing Ozyakup back to the Emirates.
Football London are citing a report from Turkish outlet Aksam that claims Arsenal have put forward a lucrative contract offer and the midfielder has had his head turned by the prospect of moving back to north London.
The report says Ozyakup is seriously considering rejoining Arsenal this summer after holding personal talks with Wenger and could now make a free transfer move in July.
I think it’s obvious we need to strengthen our midfield options this summer as Santi Cazorla is highly unlikely to play for Arsenal again while Jack Wilshere’s future is yet to be resolved.
We also haven’t replaced Francis Coquelin following his move to Valencia in January while Granit Xhaka has been a huge disappointment so I expect central midfield to be a real area of concern during the summer.
However, if Ozyakup does come back to the Emirates then I can’t see him being more than a squad player so I hope Wenger also has some more ambitious targets in mind.
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