Barcelona are desperate to add to their squad next month after failing to do much business in the summer.
The club reinvested the £200million earned from selling Neymar to PSG by signing Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembele.
But the £136m arrival has been out inured for four months and manager Ernesto Valverde is ready to bring in new recruits.
The boss is said to want to bolster his midfield, with Aleix Vidal, Gerard Deulofeu and Arda Turan set to leave.
Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets may also soon need replacing.
And Spanish newspaper Marca claim FIVE cheap players are on Valverde’s wish list.
Top of the pile is Arsenal star Ozil, who has hit a good spell of form at just the right time.
Ozil can leave Arsenal for free next summer as his contract is due to expire – and is able to agree terms with other clubs as early at January 1.
However, Barca are said to be hopeful of signing Ozil from Arsenal in the New Year, even if that means stumping up a nominal transfer fee.
Barca claim Nabil Fekir and Aleksandr Golovin are also on Barcelona’s shopping list.
And Schalke’s star duo Max Meyer and Leon Goretzka are being monitored as well.
Philippe Coutinho is also a long-running transfer target but could cost as much as Dembele.
Express Sport understands Manchester United are interested in Ozil, while Goretzka – who is also out of contract in the summer – has been linked with a wealth of clubs.
Arsenal would far likely rather sell Ozil to Barca rather than risk him leaving for United.
And Schalke have already supposedly offered Goretzka a massive pay rise to stay in Germany, but to no avail.