Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil linked with move to Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr

Reports in Turkey say Riyadh club are preparing an offer of around $20m for out-of-favour German

Mesut Ozil with other Arsenal substitutes during the Premier League match at Southampton on June 25, 2020. Getty

Mesut Ozil is challenged by West Ham's Angelo Ogbonna during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium on March 7, 2020, his last appearance. AFP

Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil being chased by Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips during the FA Cup third round match at the Emirates Stadium on January 6, 2020. AFP

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil after his team went 1-0 down in the Premier League match at home to Manchester City on December 15, 2019. AFP

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil during the Premier League match at home to Southampton on November 23, 2019. AFP

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil skips past Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse. AFP

Arsenal's Mesut Ozil is closed down by Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic during the Premier League match at home to Manchester United on January 1, 2020. AFP

Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mesut Ozil. AFP

Manchester United striker Anthony Martial under pressure from Mesut Ozil. AFP

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil is said to have attracted interest from Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr.

Reports in Turkey claimed on Monday that the Riyadh club are preparing an offer of around $20 million (Dh73.5m) per year in wages for Ozil, although the German midfielder recently said he would remain at the north London club. Ozil is believed to have interest also from Qatar.

The former Real Madrid star, 31, is understood to still be Arsenal’s highest-paid player, with his weekly wages reported to be £350,000 (Dh1.7m). Despite that, he did not feature for manager Mikel Arteta following the 2019/20 Premier League’s restart in June. His contract with Arsenal runs until next year.

Ozil attracted heavy criticism this year by refusing to follow his teammates in taking a pay-cut during lockdown, but told The Athletic afterwards that his current deal "should be respected by everyone", implying he would stay.

Arteta, meanwhile, has hinted that Ozil would be given a clean slate heading into the new Premier League campaign, which begins on September 12. On Saturday, his side defeated champions Liverpool on penalties to win the Community Shield.

Nine-time domestic champions, Nassr are looking to strengthen their squad having this week relinquished the Saudi Pro League title to Al Hilal. The capital club sit six points behind their city rivals with two rounds to go, but lost the crown given their inferior head-to-head record.

Nassr’s most notable foreign players include former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones and former Leicester City midfielder Ahmed Musa.