Arsene Wenger is reportedly ready to make a huge sacrifice in order to keep Mesut Ozil at Arsenal.
Italian publication Tuttosport claims that Juventus are plotting a £29m swoop for the German World Cup winner, who might be persuaded to leave after an underwhelming two years at the Emirates.
The Serie A champions are looking for a marquee signing this summer as they fear midfielders Arturo Vidal and Paul Pogba could follow Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo in leaving, claims the Daily Mail.
SEE ALSO:
New Chelsea 2015-16 away shirt
Sterling Rodgers bust-up: Liverpool REBEL does NOT want to play for COCKY boss
Live Ashes streaming guide
But The Metro reports that Wenger will promise to build his team around Ozil and give the playmaker the opportunity to flourish in his desired number-10 role in a bid to convince him to stay.
Although moving Ozil inside from the left could extract the form that made him a key figure at Real Madrid, it would come at the cost of Arsenal forfeiting the best role for their best player.
Alexis Sanchez spent most of last term operating behind the lone striker, usually Olivier Giroud, and made a significant impact in his debut season after his £35m arrival from Barcelona, per BBC Sport.
He managed 25 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Ozil’s goal-and-assist tally for Arsenal is two fewer despite him joining from Real in a club-record £42.5m deal 12 months earlier, via The Guardian.
The damage that Sanchez can do from a central position is evident in the below video:
The 26-year-old also turned it on when it mattered, something that cannot be said about Ozil. These goals against Manchester City and in crucial FA Cup games prove that Sanchez is a man for the big moment.
Taking the tenacious Chilean out of the central third, where the big matches can often be won and lost, and entrusting the unreliable Ozil to be his match-winner would not be a risk worth taking for Wenger.
COMMENTS