Mesut Ozil’s January transfer to Barcelona in doubt due to board room split with future Arsenal director understood to have ‘closed’ deal
Nou Camp chief has strong relationship with Ivan Gazidis
BARCELONA have agreed a deal to sign Mesut Ozil, according to reports in Spain — but there's a hold up.
Sport claim Nou Camp transfer guru, Raul Sanllehi, who has agreed to move to Arsenal, has "closed" the deal for the German playmaker.
However, he has yet to get the approval of his fellow board members, with some unsure he is the right fit for the club.
Barcelona are desperate to bring in a top quality attacking midfielder in January, having missed out on Philippe Coutinho.
Sanllehi has been in London to negotiate with Ozil's agent Erkut Sogut, as well as his agent.
However, sporting director Pep Segura, who ultimately has the final say, is not convinced.
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Barcelona know they can have Ozil, 29, for the relatively low price of £20million.
However, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, Segura believes that would be "gifting" Arsenal the amount.
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Fellow director Robert Fernandez and manager Ernesto Valverde will also have their say on whether they think his arrival would be in the club's best interests.
Coutinho remains their prime target, but Sanllehi believes they would have more success pursuing Ozil due to Liverpool's resistance to part with the Brazilian.