Manchester United will bid for Werder Bremen midfielder Mesut Ozil before the end of August according to German publication Kicker.
The newspaper suggests that Manchester United have money to spend and although Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona have all been linked with the 21-year-old, Werder Bremen believe only Sir Alex Ferguson will make a formal approach for the German international in this window.
Reports in Spain yesterday suggested Real Madrid will endeavour to sign the prodigious midfielder on a free transfer, by opening talks with the playmaker in January, but if speculation is to be believed, then Ozil could already be a Manchester United player.
With just 12-months to run on his current deal and with no intention of signing an extension, clubs are able to secure Ozil to a pre-contract at the turn of the year, but Manchester United intend to bid this summer in order to beat the inevitable transfer scramble in January. (article continues below)
Ozil’s other suitors Chelsea and Barcelona are believed to be preoccupied with other transfer targets and Kicker intimates Sir Alex Ferguson will test the resolve of Bundesliga club by making a £12 million bid. David Gill confirmed earlier in the week that the club have funds available should Ferguson decide to enter the current market, and although the German club may demand closer to £15 million, the prospect of losing their star asset on a free may tempt them into the sale.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has maintained a long-term interest in the German international of Turkish descent; however the player has previously expressed an admiration for Chelsea and Manchester United, in addition to the two La Liga clubs.
On the back of his wonderful displays in South Africa, where he was one of the undoubted stars of the World Cup finals, the attacking midfielder has emerged as one of the most coveted players on the continent.