Arsenal: Mesut Ozil set to become Gunners' first £200,000-a-week player

Arsenal are set to make Mesut Ozil the highest paid player in the club's history by offering the midfielder a new £200,000-a-week ($288,000-a-week) contract to extend his stay beyond the summer of 2018. Arsene Wenger is keen to tie up the German midfielder to a new deal sooner rather than later.

According to the Daily Mail, talks between the club and the Germany international's representatives are under way with both parties expecting a positive outcome. Ozil is expected to agree a new deal and extend his stay at the club and considerably increase his wages, which are currently reported to be £140,000-a-week.

The Germany international has had his best season in an Arsenal shirt following his arrival in 2013 from Real Madrid, and was one of the nominees for the PFA player of the year, which was won by Leicester City's Riyad Mahrez. Ozil has provided 18 assists – two short of the all time record held by Thierry Henry – and scored six goals thus far this season. He has a chance to equal the record if he plays in the final game against Aston Villa on Sunday (15 May).

The 26-year-old midfielder was linked with a move away from the club, owing to the disappointing end to the season, which saw Arsenal's title challenge falter in recent months after they began the year as one of the favourites. However, he has reiterated his desire to remain with the club and achieve the goals he set for himself when he arrived from the La Liga.

"I am under contract with Arsenal and I am very happy to be here now," Ozil said, as quoted by the London Evening Standard.

"I do not think about the future, I just think my current situation. I have goals for Arsenal. In the future you can never know in football," the Germany international added.