Arsenal star Mesut Ozil lined up for emotional return to hometown club Schalke

MESUT OZIL has been lined up for an emotional return to his hometown club Schalke.

Barcelona and Manchester United are among the sides that will be scrambling for the the Arsenal star's signature.

Schalke, who sit second in the Bundesliga following Sunday's 2-0 win over Hamburg, have declared their eagerness to take the midfield ace back.

Following a five-year stint with Rot-Weiss Essen, Ozil moved to the youth ranks of Schalke in 2005.

Ozil made 39 appearances for the German side, before completing a move to league rivals Werder Bremen three years later.

Real Madrid snapped him up in 2010 after he established himself as one of Europe's top young talents during the South Africa World Cup.

After three successful years in Spain, the 29-year-old completed a £42.5million switch to Arsenal in 2013.

Ambitious Schalke chairman Clemens Tonnies said: "I could very easily imagine Mesut returning to us, and it is the same for him.

LOVE NOT ENOUGH Arsene Wenger still fears Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil will leave Arsenal

"If this became a possibility we would of course get busy with it.

"If there is a deal that suits everyone, then it would be a wonderful story."

However, the 61-year-old ruled out the possibility of Ozil swapping the Emirates for the Veltins Arena during the January transfer window.

He added: "I am certain that no deal will take place during the course of this season."

Ozil is due to return to Germany this week as Arsenal visit struggling Cologne in the Europa League on Thursday.

Barcelona are desperate to bolster their squad in January and Mesut Ozil has been earmarked as an alternative to Philippe Coutinho.