Arsenal should sell Mesut Ozil and buy Hakim Ziyech ‘for half the price’ from Ajax says Dutch club’s own technical director Marc Overmars
- Marc Overmars insists his former club should sell Mesut Ozil this summer
- Despite being Ajax technical director Overmars feels Arsenal need Hakim Ziyech
- Ziyech was a star performer for Ajax last season as they dazzled in Europe
- The playmaker is understood to have a 35m euro (£31.5m) buy-out clause
Arsenal legend Marc Overmars insists his former club should sell Mesut Ozil this summer and look to buy Hakim Ziyech from Ajax.
Overmars currently holds the position of technical director at Ajax, but feels the Gunners would benefit from the services of the mercurial Ziyech.
The Moroccan was a star performer last season as Ajax surged to the Champions League semi-finals, and is understood to have a 35m euro (£31.5m) buy-out clause this summer.
Marc Overmars feels Arsenal should be looking to sign Hakim Ziyech this summer
‘I am a bit surprised that it is still so quiet around Hakim,’ Overmars told Voetbal International.
‘I think he has played better every year and his statistics are exceptionally good. Many clubs are increasingly looking at that.
Overmars is currently technical director at Ajax but feels Arsenal would benefit from his star
Ozil has been repeatedly linked with a move away but his huge wages remain a difficulty
‘They look more at the numbers than at what he shows and what is happening around him. I think Hakim Ziyech is better than Mesut Ozil.
‘I would say sell him (Ozil) and you will get Hakim for half. But they (Arsenal) didn’t listen to me. So it could just be that he stays with Ajax.’
Ziyech has been linked with a host of top European clubs, and is widely expected to move on this summer.
Likewise, Ozil has also been repeatedly linked with an Arsenal exit after drifting in and out of the team last season under Unai Emery.
The Moroccan was a star last season as Ajax surged to the Champions League semi-finals
The German is Arsenal’s top earner on eye-watering wages in the region of £350,000 per week and such figures mean prospective buying teams would struggle to match the demands.
Ozil featured as a 78th minute substitute during Arsenal’s recent pre-season victory against Colorado Rapids.
Teenager Gabriel Martinelli scored on his debut for Arsenal to help lift the side to a 3-0 win, along with strikes from Bukayo Saka and James Olayinka.
