Arsenal: Arsène Wenger Targets £25 Million Barcelona Star to Replace Mesut Ozil

Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, left, with manager Arsene Wenger.
Mesut Ozil of Arsenal, left, with manager Arsène Wenger at Emirates Stadium, January 22. Wenger may seek to replace Ozil with Arda Turan of Barcelona. Shaun Botterill/Getty

Arsène Wenger will target Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan in an effort to replace the departing Mesut Ozil, according to a report.

Ozil, 28, has less than a year and a half remaining on his current contract and according to The Times , the Germany international's departure is now "probable."

That would leave Wenger, who appears likely to stay at Emirates Stadium despite the possibility of Arsenal missing out on UEFA Champions League qualification for the first time since the 1996-97 season, seeking a new creative midfielder for his team.

Turan, 30, does not fit into Wenger's policy of buying youth but he may be a viable target, having become marginalized at Barcelona.

Barcelona is about to undergo its own rebuild with head coach Luis Enrique on his way out at the Nou Camp, with Turkish international Turan likely to be surplus to the new manager's requirements.

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