Istanbul Basaksehir of Turkey midfielder, Azubuike Okechukwu is bound to face more daunting competition in his search for regular playing time with the new Turkish Super Lig champions, as the club are thinking about moving for out of favour Arsenal of England star, Mesut Ozil, megasportsarena.com reports.
So soon after ‘Azu’ failed to get a place in his club’s line-up for their last match of the season, which crowned them as first-time champions of Turkey, the lad that had been on loan from Pyramids FC of Egypt, will be shocked to learn that the team’s top brass are moving for Ozil.
Indeed, the Turkish-born German dazzler has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for a move to Azubuike’s UEFA Champions League-bound team, as he no longer features in the plans of The Gunners’ coach, Mikel Arteta.
Considering that the Spanish tactician has not handed Ozil a single outing since the resumption of action in the season, the former Real Madrid of Spain playmaker, who has less than a year left on his contract, would jolly well want to leave Emirates Stadium this summer and Istanbul could be the next direction for the 31-year-old star to contemplate his future.
Ozil understands that he would likely spend next season away from Arsenal’s first-team squad should he remain at Emirates Stadium and, as he considers his options, 90 Minutes reports that Basaksehir are prepared to offer the Germany international a contract in the transfer window.
Having just won the Turkish top flight for the first time in their history, Basaksehir are looking at ways to strengthen their squad ahead of their participation in the UCL and it is reckoned that top shots at Azubuike’s team may be able to get a deal for Ozil with government backing, which would be highly required for them to meet his expectedly high wage demands.
Dramatically, though, Azubuike’s club is only the second option in Turkey for Ozil, after the ace midfielder reportedly turned down an offer from more prestigious Fernebahce when they stated that they would not be able to pay his £350,000-per-week wages.
Ozil’s wife, Amine Gulse, a former Miss Turkey, is said to be the driving force behind his push for an exit from Arsenal and she is keen on him joining a Turkish club this summer, as she is popular in the country of her birth, but she does not want The Yellow Canaries for him.
With the offer to join Fernebahce now out of Ozil reach, his next focus is to link up with Azubuike, who is set to sign a new three-year deal with the newly-crowned Turkish champions after his season-long loan deal from Pyramids of Egypt came to a close last weekend.
The two-time Nigerian under-23 national team, Olympic Eagles captain, who was totally thrilled on Sunday night, after achieving his first career league title, will now weigh his options moving forward after both clubs agreed to turn the initial loan deal into a full transfer to Basaksehir.
Although a bout with injury restricted his appearances after the restart, Azubuike had a fine run during his club’s impressive campaign in the UEFA Europa League and the 23-year-old battler is ready to pen a three-year-deal, following which he would be unveiled before their round of 16 continental clash away to FC Copenhagen of Denmark.
It would then be up to the former Bayelsa United of Yenagoa and Caykur Rizespor of Turkey ace midfielder, who featured in 19 league games and helped his side to 13 victories, as they hooked the title with a game to spare, will then have to work harder in order to outshine incoming Ozil.
