Ozil ready to wait until Emery is sacked, Real Madrid transfer up to Pogba

Mesut Ozil will wait it out, Manchester United will sell Chris Smalling, and Paul Pogba could still force a move to Real Madrid. 

Mesut Ozil waits for Emery sacking 

Mesut Ozil is refusing to leave Arsenal, according to the Daily Star. The paper reports that Ozil is prepared to wait until Unai Emery is sacked as pressure mounts on the Spaniard in his second season. The 31-year-old has a contract that runs until 2021, but he has no plans of handing in a transfer request, though a move to MLS may eventually appeal. 

*** Emery’s Arsenal are struggling, but the changes he has made at the club seem fundamentally sound. He is refreshing the squad to bring in athletic players who are far younger than those he inherited. It is doubtful any new manager would want to undo that work and bring back Ozil to the first team.

United ready to sell Smalling 

The Sun reports that Manchester United are happy to negotiate the permanent transfer of Chris Smalling. The central defender joined Roma on loan in the summer, and the 29-year-old is keen on completing a deal to stay at the club. The paper reports a meeting was due on Friday for United and Roma to agree a permanent deal. 

Real Madrid transfer up to Pogba

The Express explains further the obstacles facing Pogba in his pursuit of a move to Real Madrid. He has played little after an ankle injury kept him out for much of the season, but reports in Spain say he has to get back to action and prove his worth. That is because of his agent, Mino Raiola. Real are so reluctant to have to deal with him that Pogba will need to convince Florentino Perez he is too good to turn down. 

***After years of indifferent form for United, and plenty of hassle caused around the world for club by Raiola, Perez’s position is entirely understandable. It would be little surprise to see Real find a better use for the £150 million asking price, and see the World Cup winner sign a new deal at Old Trafford for want of a better option.