Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil reportedly had secret talks over a summer transfer to Fenerbahce, according to reports in Turkey.
The German international has made a positive start to the new campaign, scoring six goals and providing an assist in 11 appearances in all competitions thus far.
In turn, he has been able to continue to play a pivotal part in Arsenal’s progress, as he is seen as a key player in their bid to end their wait for a Premier League title this season.
However, according to Hurriyet, he travelled to Istanbul over the summer to talk with the Super Lig giants, with the report claiming that they kept the meeting a secret with Ozil only staying in the city for 17 hours to discuss a potential deal before leaving.
As noted in the report, Ozil is still waiting to agree on new terms to extend his stay in north London, with his current deal running until 2018.
The 28-year-old will undoubtedly be a priority for the Gunners in the coming weeks given his importance to Arsene Wenger’s side, but ultimately the speculation over secret talks will not reflect well on him if true.
As for Fener, it’s certainly an ambitious move on their part to try and prise away one of the Premier League’s leading talents, and the mere fact that Ozil is said to have even attended talks will be a boost for them.
However, given his current position and ability to compete for major honours with Arsenal, it would be a shock to see him leave England for Turkey at this stage of his career, although there is no reason why he can’t become a possibility further down the line.