Mesut Ozil to Manchester United and how Jose Mourinho could line up after signing Arsenal star

Manchester United are reportedly lining up a move that would arguably make their swoop for Robin van Persie look tame – stealing Mesut Ozil from Arsenal on a free transfer.

Aside from the fact that many of us will miss the announcement due to Twitter’s servers disintegrating from the sheer explosion of anger from Arsenal fans, this promises to be one of the big stories of next summer if it does go through.

Jose Mourinho notably managed Ozil at Real Madrid, getting the German to play some of the finest football of his career in those three seasons, and has since then never been shy to gush over his qualities in that number ten role.

‘He is the best number 10 in the world,’ Mourinho said when Ozil joined Arsenal in 2013. ‘He makes things very easy for his team-mates with his football vision and the decisions he makes.’

It seems likely then, that that is where the Portuguese would use Ozil if he were to bring him to Old Trafford, though there are one or two big-names in the way, and other possible roles he could take up.

Here’s a look at the three most likely ways the Red Devils would line up if they were to complete this latest stunning raid on the Gunners…

Classic Number 10 Role

Despite the presence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Juan Mata as options in that role, United would surely see Ozil as ideal to play centrally in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

It is in that role that the 28-year-old has reached his best form for Arsenal, though he hasn’t had players with both the pace and quality of Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku to aim at.

With Mkhitaryan or Mata likely shifting out wide to the right, this looks a strong line up for the Red Devils if Mourinho can snatch free agent Ozil from Arsenal’s grasp next summer.

Inverted winger

Occasionally used in this kind of role for both club and country, perhaps Mourinho sees a future for Ozil out there again, particularly due to uncertainty over how to get the best out of £89million man Paul Pogba.

While Ozil has struggled on the right in Arsenal’s 3-4-3 formation, he would arguably have less defensive work and running to do there with an out-and-out full-back behind him rather than wing-back.

Pogba’s fine start to this season with more attacking freedom saw him up his goal count, while he wore the number 10 shirt in his final season at Juventus in a major signal that he sees himself as more of an advanced midfielder.

With Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini strong options in the two defensive roles, United could get a lot of joy out of having Ozil and Pogba further forward to link up with each other as well as with Rashford and Lukaku.