ARSENAL have joined Manchester United in the hunt for James Maddison as they search for Mesut Ozil’s replacement, according to reports.
The Leicester playmaker, 23, has been a United target for months but they could now face competition from the Gunners.
As SunSport exclusively revealed last week, Mikel Arteta is planning a major overhaul at Arsenal to kick-start his stalled Emirates revolution.
Six senior players, including top earners Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, are out of contract in less than 18 months time.
And head of football Raul Sanllehi has made it clear to Arteta that no one will be allowed to run down their deals then leave as a free agent next year.
Aubameyang, who turns 31 in June, does not want to spend another season outside the Champions League and is aware of Barcelonas interest.
Arteta acknowledges that a player who cost them 60million two years ago cannot be allowed to leave for nothing.
And it is a similar situation with Ozil, who has not scored all season and has managed just one assist in the league.
The 31-year-old has been substituted in six of his eight games for Arteta but insists he is happy at theEmiratesand plans to see out his 350,000-a-week contract.
But the Gunners boss has highlighted Maddison as a prime target in his hunt for the German’s replacement, according to the Mail.
However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is unlikely to take that lying down as SunSport exclusively revealed today the Norwegian wants to land Maddison AND his pal Jack Grealish in an eye-watering 160million swoop.
Manchester Uniteds boss hopes the fact the pair are close friends could tip the mega double-raid in his favour.
But Maddison, 23, has opened talks with Leicester over a new deal.
However, a 90m move to United would see him command a salary of 200,000 a week double the money on offer at the King Power.
Aston Villa skipperGrealish, Maddison and his Leicester team-mate Ben Chilwell jetted off to Dubai during the Prems winter break.
