Jose Mourinho won't rule out signing Mesut Ozil for Manchester United as playmaker's Arsenal deal winds down

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Jose Mourinho has not ruled out the possibility of signing Mesut Ozil on a free transfer from Arsenal in the summer ahead of Manchester United’s trip to the Emirates.

A £45.5million signing from Real Madrid in 2013, Ozil could leave Arsenal for nothing when his contract runs out at the end of the season and has been linked with a move to United.

The 29-year-old enjoyed the best period of his career under Mourinho during three seasons in Spain, and the Old Trafford boss has previously described the Germany international as the best No.10 in the world.

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Jose Mourinho has not ruled out the possibility of signing Mesut Ozil on a free transfer

Asked before United’s clash with Arsenal on Saturday if he could sign Ozil in the summer, a smiling Mourinho replied: ‘No comment.’ 

But he was more expansive in response to questions about a player of Ozil’s quality being out of contract. ‘That’s football,’ said Mourinho. ‘They finish their contracts. (Marouane) Fellaini finishes his contract.

‘There are other important players in Europe in other teams that they finish their contracts. Sometimes players decide to go in this direction, which is the right that they have.

‘They gamble because imagine one of these players has a big knee injury, if one of these players has one of these injuries, probably next season, he is without a club.

The Germany international signed for £45.5million in 2013 but can leave for free in summer

Mourinho previously worked with Ozil at Real Madrid and remains a huge admirer of the player

‘Players have the right to do that and I don’t blame the clubs because the clubs, they try and try, but the players they have the right to go into this type of situation.

‘Many times it is good for them because they sometimes go on a free transfer and they can get huge salaries. Other times, the clubs make an extra effort to keep them and they go with them also to very high salaries.

‘I repeat, I am not speaking about Alexis (Sanchez) or Ozil, I am speaking about the general situation. Even as managers, some of us prefer to let the contract go until the last year and in the last year we make the decision to stay, to leave. You know, it’s a risk for everyone, but sometimes the risk works and that’s football.

‘The important thing is that the players remain professionals and they remain focused in the clubs where they are and they give everything to the clubs until the last day.’