Arsenal hopeful of terminating Mesut Ozil's contract

Arsenal are hopeful of mutually terminating Mesut Ozil's contract by the turn of the year.

The German has been deemed surplus to requirements by manager Mikel Arteta and has played no part for the club since the project restart last season.

He was recently omitted from the club's Europa League squad for the group stages and is also expected to be excluded from the 25-man Premier League squad later this month.

According to The Mail, the north London giants are desperate to get his £350,000-a-week salary off their wage bill and are aiming to negotiate his release.

Ozil's contract does not expire until the end of June next year, but the capital outfit are optimistic of reaching a mutual agreement such that he can leave on a free transfer in January.

Ozil has previously stated that he has no plans of leaving the Gunners until the conclusion of his contract and it remains to be seen whether the club can convince him to part ways in advance.