Barcelona prepared £53m bid for Arsenal contract rebel Mesut Ozil if move for Liverpool playmaker fails

Barcelona have set their sights on signing Arsenal contract rebel Mesut Ozil.

According to the Spanish outlet Don Balon, Barca will make a move for Ozil if they are unable to land Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho. The La Liga giants have set aside £53 million for the former Real Madrid man.

Barcelona are preparing to bring big-names into the Camp Nou in the event Neymar Jr leaves to join PSG this summer.

See More: All smiles at Arsenal for Mesut Ozil who is close to new £280k-a-week contract

Per the source, Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde wants to bring Coutinho as a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta. However, Liverpool have so far resisted any attempts by the La Liga giants to sign their star playmaker.

Don Balon go onto state that Barcelona are keen to sign Mesut Ozil due to his popularity among Real Madrid supporters. The 28-year-old played a starring role in Jose Mourinho’s Madrid side and helped them win La Liga title in 2012.

Ozil has under 12 months remaining on his current deal with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is keen to keep hold of his star name but risks losing him on a free next summer unless a new deal is worked out.