Ozil's bumper deal may be key factor behind Ramsey's impending Arsenal departure

By Sam Preston

Aaron Ramsey’s Arsenal contract is up at the end of the season and reports about his next destination have ramped up again ahead of the January transfer window.

Sky Italia report that Juventus are working hard to bring the Welshman to Turin at the end of the season on a free transfer, while Italian outlet Calciomercato report that AC Milan and their local rivals Inter have been priced out of a move by Ramsey’s wage demands.

Meanwhile, the Mail claim that Bayern Munich are monitoring Ramsey’s situation with interest with the midfielder set to make a decision on his future in the coming weeks.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

But how has it reached the situation where the Gunners face losing one of their leading midfielders for nothing?

The calibre of the clubs interested in Ramsey indicates the quality he has, so could it be that another Arsenal leading light has contributed to his departure?

Arsenal operated with a very frugal wage structure under Arsene Wenger, but that ceiling was smashed in February when Mesut Ozil signed a new contract worth a reported £350,000 per week.

That was viewed as a sign of ambition at the time but it opens the door for the likes of Ramsey to demand a huge salary increase as the time came for him to renew his deal.

But with the Gunners unwilling or unable to pay up, they face losing Ramsey and given that Ozil is in and out of the side, the new bumper deal isn’t looking so wise perhaps…