Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is increasingly sure that he can persuade Germany international midfielder Mesut Ozil to join him at Old Trafford on a free transfer next summer, according to the Independent.

North London giant Arsenal appear resigned to allowing the former Real Madrid Midfielder to leave at the end of his current Arsenal contract, signed in 2013, after failing to pen a new deal despite several rounds of contract talks over the last 18 months.

No further discussion are planned despite the FIFA World Cup winner indicating during last summer’s pre-season tour of Sydney, Australia that he’d be willing to remain at the Emirates Stadium. 

Mesut Ozil is absolutely free to sign a pre-contract deal with foreign suitors from the January winter transfer window but is believed to be tempted by the prospect of working with Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho, under whom he featured at Spanish La Liga giant Real Madrid for three years.

There have been long-existing speculation strongly linking the German with Turkish giants Besiktas and Fenerbahce, while only recently Italian Serie A giant Inter Milan have been identified as suitors.