Bayern Munich madness as Mesut Ozil move rumours persist

The tabloid rumour mill is insistent that Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil will quit Arsenal for a return to the Bundesliga with reigning champions and leaders Bayern Munich, despite the player seemingly scotching speculation about his future.

What is behind such allegations? And more to the point, do Munich, Coral’s 7/2 joint-favourites to win the Champions League, need Ozil when they are so well-stocked in his natural number 10 position?

Playmakers of Ozil’s ilk easily draw criticism, with commentators relying on that famous football cliche of ‘goes missing in games’ when the assists dry up. His status as the Gunners’ record signing at £42.4m also goes before him, but he must be comfortable with the accompanying reputation that generates.

In fairness, though, Ozil did not set the fee, nor has he ever been a prolific scorer of goals. At 25 years old, you could argue his prime is still to come, and the British press see his golden era being back in the Bundesliga at Bayern.

Looking at his history, Ozil started at Schalke, who are bitter rivals of Borussia Dortmund. That should rule the Westfalenstadion out as a future destination out for him. Bayer Leverkusen, who were among the best of the rest in Germany last term, meanwhile, have just spent around £11.5m on talented Turkey prospect Hakan Calhanoglu for that position.

A return home to Gelsenkirchen looks unlikely anytime soon for Ozil either. New Schalke boss Roberto Di Matteo has teenagers Max Meyer and Leon Goretzka, plus Julian Draxler and Kevin-Prince Boateng all capable of playing off the front.

Werder Bremen, where Ozil plied his trade between Schalke and the big move to Real Madrid, are currently bottom of the Bundesliga following a winless start to the season. He will never be seen again there if their fortunes cannot be revived.

Having played for one Spanish giant, that would appear to rule out cross-capital rivals Atletico Madrid and El Clasico foes Barcelona, leaving Italy as the only viable alternative for Ozil to test himself in a top European league.

Respective spells at Fiorentina and Lazio for compatriot attackers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez have been injury-hit, making Serie A something of a potential turn-off to Ozil. Unless he makes the move to Munich, as the tabloids have mooted, there are only big fishes in small domestic ponds open to him.