The Catalan club have chase Coutinho for months, but are finally ready to move on (Picture: Getty)
The Catalan club have chase Coutinho for months, but are finally ready to move on (Picture: Getty)

Barcelona are ready to make Arsenal star Mesut Ozil their No.1 transfer target in January and believe he has two major advantages over Philippe Coutinho, according to reports.

The Spanish giants have long been linked with a move for Liverpool ace Coutinho and had been expected to reignite their move for the Brazilian playmaker in January.

However, the Merseysiders are refusing to deal, and Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo now report that Barcelona are ready to make a move for Ozil instead.

The German is more appealing for two major reasons: firstly, he is out of contract in the summer and would be significantly less expensive then Coutinho, who Liverpool value at over £100m.

Ozil is also believed to be on Jose Mourinho’s shortlist, though he’d hoped to get him for free (Getty)

Secondly, Ozil would be eligible to play in the Champions League in the second half of the season as he has not played in Europe this term, with Arsene Wenger fielding rotated XIs in the Europa League.

Even if he is selected in Arsenal’s remaining two matches in the competition, he could still be registered to play in the Champions League by Barcelona.

Barcelona see Ozil as an ideal – and much cheaper – alternative to Coutinho (Mundo Deportivo)

Wenger has already opened the door to the possibility of selling Ozil in January, with the German now highly unlikely to agree new terms and Arsenal risking losing their former club-record signing for nothing.

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has also been credited with an interest, though Barca – as a foreign club – could negotiate a pre-contract agreement with Ozil from January onwards.