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Mesut Ozil’s contract talks are now being personally handled by Josh Kroenke.

The German playmaker’s representatives have been locked in discussions with Arsenal throughout the season but have been unable to strike an agreement over extending his stay at the Emirates.

Ozil says he wants to stay and is happy in the capital, but negotiations involving complicated factors such as image rights have yet to reach a successful conclusion.

Frustrated by the impasse, Ozil’s team have ditched talks with Dick Law, the club’s chief transfer negotiator who has been leading the discussions so far.

And in an unprecedented step, Football.London has learnt they have reached out to Josh Kroenke, the son of Arsenal’s majority shareholder Stan, who is a growing influence behind the scenes at the club.

Ozil and Josh share a good relationship, with the former Real Madrid man a special guest of the American when Kroenke’s Denver Nuggets NBA side visited London in January to play at the O2.

And the German’s people have now made it clear they will only deal with Kroenke as they look to secure a new long-term deal for the 28-year-old.

Ozil arrived at Arsenal in 2013 from Spain and has had a mixed spell so far in north London.

Inconsistent performances have seen him criticised, with many suggesting his laid back style is not suited to the demands of the Premier League.

He has been linked with a possible switch to Fenerbahce this summer, while there is strong interest from China - with one club said to have offered him a £100m contract last year.

Ozil, however, insists that he has no interest in leaving European football.

“Money never played a big role for me in football,” he told Goal.

“I play football because I love it. Sure, you do not earn peanuts and the offer from China was tempting and interesting.

“But as I said: Money is not everything. I want to win titles and I have my goals I want to achieve. That is more important than money.

“That’s why I said from the beginning, that China is not an option for me.”