Arsenal News: Midfielder contract talks begin, Henry's transfer plan, £13m approach

Mesut Ozil is reportedly set to offered a new £160,000-a-week deal

 

NEWS NEWS BLOG SPORT brings you all the latest news from the Emirates Stadium.

 

Mesut Ozil is in talks with the club over a new £160,000-a-week contract, according to reports.

The German's impressive form this season - four goals and 13 assists - has seen the Gunners increase their interest in trying to tie him down to a longer deal.

Ozil's current contract runs out in 2018 but The Sun claim Arsenal are willing to extend the deal until the following year, that will see his wage increase by £20,000 a week.

Thierry Henry believes Arsenal's squad is capable of winning the Premier League this season but admits they could do with some reinforcements in midfield following their injury crisis that has left Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere sidelined.

 

"It’s a hard one, because for me right now I think Arsenal’s squad is good enough to win the league," Henry said at a Q&A session which took place at Facebook in London. 

"What we need is some backup to make sure we have a guy that can hold the fort if Flamini gets injured.

"The position would be holding midfielder for me, and with Arsenal they are at the top and the amount of injuries they’ve had is not normal.

"When those guys come back they can be your new signings. But we keep saying that! I will have answered that [question of who they should sign] properly if the whole team was there, but the boss never has everyone available."

 

Arsenal are understood to be frontrunners in the race to sign Spain forward Nolito

Arsenal are weighing up a £13m deal for Celta Vigo forward Nolito, according to reports.

The Spaniard has impressed for the La Liga outfit this campaign with eight goals to his name.

And the Gunners are keen to bring him to north London with Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo claiming the Gunners have already begun talks with the striker.

The 29-year-old, whose current contract expires in 2019, has also been linked with a move to Barcelona.