Saudi and Qatar clubs in the race to sign Arsenal's Ozil

German football star Mesut Ozil could be on his way to the Middle East, with Qatari and Saudi clubs attempting to lure the forward away from Arsenal.

Ozil has been at the centre of a public dispute with Arsenal's management and a long spell on the bench.

His unhappy time at the North London club could be coming to an end if Arsenal accept an offer from one of a number of teams in the chase for the German playmaker.

Among the clubs interested in the 31-year-old is Saudi club Al-Nassr, who are reportedly offering £15 million-a-year to lure Ozil away from North London, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Ozil is on a £350,000-a-week salary at Arsenal but has come under fire over his public dispute with the club on taking a wage cut during the coronavirus epidemic and his poor form.

He was absent for Arsenal's crunch Community Shield game against Liverpool last weekend with a question mark over the playmaker's future at the club.

The Riyadh-based club could take Ozil off Arsenal's hands before his contract expires and he is available for a free transfer next year. 

Ozil has insisted that he is happy at Arsenal and has no plans to leave the club.

"Things have obviously been difficult but I love Arsenal, I love to work there, I love the people in the club - the real people, those I've been with for a long time - and I love London, it's my home," he said.

"Whatever happened in the last two seasons, I'm happy and very strong mentally. I never give up on anything. I want to help my team and I'll fight for it. If I'm fit, I know what I can do on the pitch."

A Qatari club is also interested in signing Ozil, although the team was not named in The Daily Telegraph report.

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