Inter Milan refuse to let Joao Mario join Arsenal as part of deal for contract rebel Mesut Ozil
Ozil is out of contract at the end of the season and the Gunners top brass could cash in with Joao Mario an option in a swap deal if the Italians can be persuaded to do business
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INTER MILAN will not allow Joao Mario to join Arsenal as part of any potential deal taking Mesut Ozil to the San Siro, according to reports.
Calciomercato.com report Inter are weighing up a move for the German contract rebel with Fenerbahce also showing interest.
Ozil is out of contract at the end of the season and is reportedly demanding £300,000-a-week to stay on.
As things stand, there is no sign so far he is prepared to extend his stay in North London beyond next summer.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has kept faith with the former Real Madrid playmaker throughout his time in the Premier League, despite his performances polarising opinion.
However, with contract talks at an impasse, the Gunners top brass could cut their losses and cash in on the 28-year-old in the winter transfer window.
Mario joined Inter from Sporting Lisbon last year after impressing for Portugal at Euro 2016.
The 24-year-old midfielder was key for his country playing a pivotal role in all seven games as the Portuguese shocked Europe by beating the hosts in the final in Paris.
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown thinks Wenger has lost trust in Ozil.
Keown voiced his concerns about the laidback German before the win over West Brom at the Emirates.
Keown said: “I think he loves playing football, Sanchez, I don’t see there’s an issue with him.
“Ozil of the two players, are they going to sign, aren’t they, is the one I wouldn’t trust as much mentally, and I believe he’s not playing tonight because the gaffer really can’t trust him anymore.
“I think it’s a huge story that Ozil doesn’t play tonight.
“If you look at their pre-seasons, Ozil wasn’t in the German squad in the summer, he came back on the very first day of pre-season, and didn’t then start the season, there was a bit of suspicion around him.
