Arsenal should sell Mesut Ozil and buy Hakim Ziyech ‘for half price’ says Ajax chief Marc Overmars
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AJAX chief Marc Overmars has incredibly suggested Arsenal should buy one of his star players - Hakim Ziyech - and offload Mesut Ozil.
Gunners' legend Overmars claims £25million-rated Morocco playmaker Ziyech, 26, would be a "half-price" and "better" alternative to £350,000-a-week German Ozil, 30.
Ziyech is thought to have a £31.5million buy-out clause after helping the Dutch champs to the Champions League semi-finals, where Spurs pipped them dramatically on away goals.
And Overmars, who won the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1997-98, is quick to dish out advice to his old club.
He told : "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."
BRILLIANT STATS
Ajax technical director Overmars, 46, is also "a bit surprised" transfer speculation over Ziyech is "still so quiet".
He said: "I think he has played better every year and his statistics are exceptionally good.
"Many clubs are increasingly looking at that.
"They look more at the numbers than at what he shows and what is happening around him."
The Gunners, though, would struggle to offload Ozil, with Fenerbahce reportedly the latest club to be scared off by his wages.
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The 2014 World Cup winner made just 20 starts in Unai Emery's debut season as Arsenal boss.
And now he is facing a crucial campaign that could decide if he is still deemed an elite-level player.
Ozil won 92 caps before quitting international football following the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
