Barcelona director Raul Sanllehi travelled to London to hold talks with Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil’s brother, as well as his agent Erkut Sogut, according to Sport.
It seems an agreement was made in principle with Ozil over personal terms, but the final decision on the player’s transfer will be (partly) down to the club’s general manager Pep Segura, who is still yet to be convinced by the signing of the German international.
In contrast, Barcelona’s other major sports publication Mundo Deportivo say that things are not as advanced as Sport suggests. The newspaper broke the story that Barca were interested in Ozil but they say that Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho remains plan A.
In addition, the club’s technical director Robert Fernandez wants to speak with the German personally before putting his seal of approval on the transfer. Such a conversation cannot officially take place until January, when the Gunners star is in the last six months of his contract, and is free to negotiate with foreign clubs.