The fate of attacking midfielder Mesut Özil may not be resolved until 31 August but probably does not lie with Werder Breman in the long term after the Bundesliga club admitted the 21-year-old is likely to leave Western Germany behind. With Chelsea, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United interested, the fight for Özil is the hottest of the summer.
Despite excelling both in last summer’s European Under-21 championships, for Werder and then the World Cup, Özil is available for a potentially bargain price of £12 – 15 million, with the player out of contract in a year’s time. It will still represent a healthy profit on a player signed just two years ago for €4.3 million.
That the player – an avowed Barcelona devotee – is unlikely to sign a new contract at Werder leaves open the possibility, however remote, that United may yet pull off the coup of the summer and secure the creative midfielder so patently missing from Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad this season.
Moreover, United’s interest is genuine, despite the club’s smoke and mirrors routine in recent weeks, when senior sources outright denied a potential bid for the midfielder. Indeed, Ferguson personally watched the player on Sunday night as Fulham faced Werder at Craven Cottage, with the fabricated excuse that the Scot travelled to watch upcoming opponents fooling few. Ferguson also met with Werder’s directors after the match.
Whether United will – indeed can – turn an interest into a concrete bid and then the German’s signature on a contract is another point altogether. Whatever executive management say to the contrary, United’s cash reserve is largely set aside for debt repayment so Ferguson must necessarily go cap in hand to the Glazer family, especially if a bidding war eventually erupts.
Indeed, with at least five seriously interested parties the most likely scenario is that other clubs can and will outbid United for the player, who scored 13 goals in 71 Bundesliga appearances for Werder over the past two seasons. United will certainly not enter an auction.
In addition to United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, the aforementioned Barcelona and Arsenal hold a credible interest in the player. While Chelsea is yet to spend big this summer – the Brazilian Ramires will eventually join in an £18 million deal from Benfica – money is available for Özil should manager Ancelotti continue rebuilding his midfield. After all, Roman Abramovich was prepared to sanction a £50 million bid for Fernando Torres had the Spaniard not made a lukewarm commitment to Liverpool this summer.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is prepared to spend around €15 million to bring the player to the Bernabeu this summer, although with Rafael van der Vaart and Kaká already on the books a free transfer next season is the Madristas preferred option. Özil also may not wish to sit out the coming season on the bench in the Spanish capital, despite Kaká’s knee injury.
That problem also awaits the German youngster in Catalonia, with Barcelona’s first choice Cesc Fabregas reluctantly remaining at Arsenal for the coming season. While Özil has made no secret of his desire to join the 2009 European Champions, reports that the player is unimpressed by the blaugrana’s priorities cannot be dismissed outright.
The player’s advisers had earlier made it known playing time is a key component of any transfer leaving the player with a potential dilemma. While Barça’s new technical secretary Andoni Zubizarreta has been working on a deal to sign the player, Pep Guardiola is not necessarily on the same page according to reports.
Then there is Arsenal, which remains an outside bet, not least because Arsène Wenger is well stocked in the attacking midfield department with his captain staying in London for the next 12 months. Moreover, another central defender and goalkeeper are the Frenchman’s priorities. Wenger does, however, have significant cash funds at his disposal after the London club’s outstanding financial results last year.
However, while the many vultures circle, Özil’s agenda is vastly different from his club’s, complicating any potential deal. Agents hired by Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona are also believed to have caused delays in any transfer. With anything up to five separate parties involved with each potential deal, to numerous interested clubs, there is no guarantee of a speedy resolution.
With Werder set to lose at least the player’s transfer fee in prize money should the club be knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers by Fiorentina next week, there is no guarantee a transfer will take place at all. Should Özil play in the game then his value drops even further to interested parties.
All of which leaves United as an outside bet in the race to sign the player, despite the club’s need arguably being the greatest. After all even if Tom Cleverly eventually develops into the creative attacking midfielder that many at Old Trafford believe he will become, United is currently bereft in that department.
In that scenario £12 – 15 million represents overwhelming value in the market, even if it takes mammoth wages to steer the player away from Real Madrid, Barcelona or Chelsea’s clutches.
Despite this, the smart money says that Özil will eventually end up in Spain. United supporters certainly hope the story is different.
Great read.
Albeit frustrating.
That Barcelona have serious money issues, yet can still tap this sort of player up, does my head in.
When I saw the news break, about the ManUtd.Com cock up, my heart stopped.
Then you realise it’s probably just a cock up.
Meh. I/We can dream.
Mmm. I’m not sure about any of this. The fact is that none of us really know what’s going on.
Are Barca really ahead of United? Who knows? That said, I’m not particularly optimistic of signing him.
Mesut Ozil is listed on ManUnited.com as a member of the first team squad.
Seems to be a downright fight between United and Chelsea. Playing time seems a key issue in any potential transfer. I’m being optimistic by saying that Ozi’l people probably realise United is the place they’d be guaranteed of minutes on the pitch as Chelsea has Lampard and Malouda in direct competition. I think the only thing preventing Ozil being at United right now is the lack of a concrete bid from us. And I don’t think Fergie sees him as a signing that needs to be done immediately, our intrest probably stems from long term considerations. Intrested to see how it plays out but as you said, its most likely going to end up in dissapointment for United fans.
I understand that the Glazers have designs on the cash we have in the bank and therefore don’t want to let us spend it (bastards!). But if a real bargain comes along it is short sighted to pass it up.
The Glazers desperately need us to stay in the top four and that means we can’t just stop spending. Saving money is all about spotting value. So it makes no sense not to at least make a bid.
United are favourites for petes sake. how are they “outside bidders”?
@Andy – Based on everything that I’ve been told and other conversations.
And one for all those still dreaming.
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BvBkTmDWBA[/video]
Where are the Glazer lovers now?
Come on… how about a bit of positive spin, (bullshit), telling us all how it’s got nothing what so ever to do with money… and how the Glazers would love to do a bit of business… if only there was a player of any worth available.
United signed another sriker (Bebe) according to the Official site.
apparently weve signed a new striker- check out the official site
FFs what in hells name do we want with another bloody striker.
I thought that when we bought Hernandez, but still that’s 8 now! Diouf is just about gone after this surely. Wouldn’t be surprised if Bebe went out on loan for this season. Fergie clearly bought now before other clubs did.
It is my understanding that Özil came on at around the 38th minute in the match at Fulham, and Sir Alex left the ground at half-time, which means he got see about seven minutes of the German midfielder playing football. So, I’d be willing to give Sir Alex the benefit of the doubt when he says he came to see how Fulham lined up under Hughes’ management.
I do believe, however, that United is interested in Özil, but I’m not certain that we will sign him; I’d like us do so. Perhaps Sir Alex is playing it cool, waiting to see if Werder-Bremen play him in the CL before making a bid. If I were him, I’d hope they do; the price would then go down and, hopefully, some of the other interested parties would let it go. I don’t believe that Özil is the difference between United winning the CL this year or not, so I’d go ahead and buy him even if he is cup-tied.
The interesting point here is the wages. United simply won’t pay the net wages that Barca and Real can put on the table. The UK tax laws take a big cut of a players wages whereas Spain the rate is less. That could be the deciding factor.
probably the most overated player currently going in the world, if you dont believe me ask the German public.
Look, I’ve just asked them on twitter:
@Germanpeople Ozil is not overated. He’s a hell of a footballer, and will be great piece of business. Great talent.
You’re wrong.
To those who say Ozil is overrated – Course he fucking is
But he’s immensely skillful, clever, scores lots, plays killer through balls, can pass (not like Scholes mind), shits defenders up, is calm, collected, sensible and is only twenny fucking one… and, fucking, he turned up and performed brilliantly in the biggest competition going under immense amounts of pressure, so he has the necessary testicals to play for United
All this and his tight arse Kraut club only want around £12m for him
Overrated, yes, but still a fucking steal for one with so much potential
good post sid, but i bet he aint as good as bebe
if we have 7mn to spend on totally unproven players like bebe(i’m not saying he’s bad)then why can’t we spend 13mn on a proven world class talent??i mean SAF’s no value for money in the market arguement also is not valid in ozil’s case!!!
@swapnil 7m doesn’t really represent value for a player who cost nothing just five weeks ago. Ferguson praised United’s scouting over Hernandez, he should probably scold them now.
i am starting to think ozil doesn’t want to come to OT.funny i actually thought he was not a player who would go after money but looks like he will wind up at madrid or barca for megabucks and then will say it was his dream to play for them.
The only way Ozil will end up at United is by default – and that could still happen.
Chelsea are strongly linked with Neymar, so that would end their interest. City will shortly sign Milner, so there simply won’t be space in their squad for Ozil – while Liverpool signing Poulsen means Barca might well go for Mascherano. Given that Fabregas is widely expected to go there next season, and the fact that Guardiola doesn’t rate Ozil, it would leave the German with few options should Bremen decide to cash in as they surely will.
So realistically it leaves us and possible outside bids from Madrid and Arsenal. What worries me is that Ozil doesn’t seem to fancy a move to OT, because if he did, he’d be here by now.
You don’t half talk shit.
Why is that then Ted?
utter cunt of a move – we can spend 7.5m on some cunt called Bebox but can’t stump up cash to get Ozil, Taggart has really had too much Jonnie Walker this month
What makes you so sure we can’t spend the money on Ozil. Maybe United simply aren’t his first choice
Clearly United aren’t his choice because we have not flashed him the dollar but Fergus wants to keep collecting strikers.
There is absolutely no need whatsover for Bebongo. He is worse than a luxury – it was clearly a defensive move to stop another EPL club getting him.
What we spent on Hernandez, Smalling and Bebongo not to mention a few other random cunts could have been invested in a midfield talent or a top goaly.
It’s shit planning.
That all depends if the sum of the above is our total budget…
True. Nobody really knows for sure what’s happening with regard to the prospective signing of Ozil. I reckon United are at least interested in signing him, hence why Fergie was at the Fulham v Werder Bremen game.
notwithstanding getting Ozil having 8 strikers is a shit. a complete luxury purchase and if you think Fergus is gonna drop rooney, berba or owen you ar just mad – diop, hernandez, mecheda and bebongo to fight it out for one slot, is a healthy balance feel free.
I don’t know why Dick… you just do.
Perhaps you don’t know any better… or perhaps you’re just a cunt.
Whatever… I used to know a fellow who talked like you. He was a cunt as well.
Ozil won’t be coming here, Fergie’ll simply squeeze one last season out of Scholes and Giggs and then cross the bridge of replacing them when he gets to it.
Let’s get realistic here – we can be interested in him all we want, but if he wants a dream move to Barca and is holding out for them then fair fucks to him.
Like I’ve always said I’d rather have a player who WANTS to be at United, rather than simply coming here cos we made the best monetary offer before inevitably buggering off to Spain anyway
yep, and he is a thick cunt if he thinks he is gonna oust xavi, iniesta – Fab and Busquests when they get there next season, Ozil – more like O’Twat
More talk that he’s agreed to join Real on a free next season.
The Bremen coach has said he’s going to include him in their CL qualifier against Sampdoria, which cup-ties him and makes him fucking useless for next season if he does go
Darron Gibson WANTS to be at United.
Too true he’s 21 if we sign him he’ll be playing in Spain by the time he’s 25. NQAT
Let Spurs sign him 10million first.
We can then go after him in 2 years time and pay 30million.
Now thats good value.
yeah, signing ronaldo was a terrible idea because he wanted to play in spain. a profit of almost 70m over 6 years plus a whole host of trophies, shit idea.
Quite right Kramer.
But still…when he was sold and appeared at the Real unveiling press conference, it still hurt.
Whatever slim hope I had of us siging Ozil…has gone.
I honestly think that if we really wanted him (and him wanting to join us) he would have been wuth us by now.
Ozil would come here – he’s been nothing but gushing towards United and Chelsea. Can’t be arsed to find the link but it’s true.
But I think we may have missed our chance because Madrid have declared their interest. Mourinho mentioned it on TV during an interview.
So he’ll probably do what they all do and choose them over us.
Lets be honest these players gush to who ever pays the biggest amount, there are very few football players left in the world today who join a club out of love, if it was United or nothing then as mentioned a few times it would have happened or has happened behind the scenes.
Werder rejected Madrid’s offer according to Valdano saying it was “…not acceptable”
I’m starting to think they want a shitload more than the £8-12m that’s often mentioned
Maybe something like £20-25m or more, you know what these Krauts are like
What they want is an auction, and why wouldn’t they? To make it worth their while to sell now, before the CL qualifier which is potentially worth £20million, they have to get a good price… otherwise what’s the point. If they qualify, they can still sell for a reduced price or keep him for the season and lose him for free. It all depends on how confident clubs are that they would be in the running if he was available for nothing and how desperate they are to sign him now. It’s one big game of poker at the moment with everybody not wanting be the first to show their cards.
New rules mean he can still play in Europe for another team if he plays for Werder on Wednesday, so long as they get knocked out in the prelimenary stages
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/24032010/58/champions-league-uefa-relax-rules-cup-tied-players.html
So this auction that you speak of is likely to run and run hence why I can’t be fucked anymore
It only applies if Bremmen are knocked out though. If he plays and helps them qualify, he is inelligable for another team.
I saw some quotes attributed to him today saying he’s refusing to discuss a new contract with Bremen and wants Madrid to come back in for him
ffs
Which should be enough for people to finally accept that Özil will not be coming to Old Trafford now or ever.
Well at least we know what a twat Ozil is.
A player who has claimed it was his dream to play for Barcelona?… Joins Real Madreeed?
That’s like a player saying it is his dream to play for United… and joining Liverpool instead.
Speaking of Spain… Anyone know how to get hold of Ivan?
Hi G. I should have an email address somewhere i´ll drop him a line and tell him to get his arse over.
Real Madrid resume Werder Bremen talks today over Ozil deal
16.08.10 |
READ MORE NEWS ON: Real Madrid, Werder Bremen
Real Madrid are expected to close the signing of Werder Bremen star Mesut Ozil today.
AS says after a break from talks over the weekend, the two clubs will again come together today to negotiate terms. The idea is to find a compromise between Real’s initial €10 million offer and Werder’s €16 million valuation.
Werder chief Klaus Allofs left the door open last night when declaring: “When I said that Madrid’s offer was unacceptable, I did not mean that we’re unwilling to listen to new proposals for Ozil.”
Real hope to agree a deal before Wednesday when Werder must play their Champions League qualifier against Sampdoria.
Real Madrid boss Mourinho: I would not say no to Ozil arrival
16.08.10 |
READ MORE NEWS ON: Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid, Werder Bremen
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has admitted admiration for Werder Bremen star Mesut Ozil.
Werder and Real have confirmed one offer has been made – and rejected – for the Germany international.
“I cannot say if we will sign him,” said Mourinho. “I am working with the players I have available.
“As a coach I cannot say ‘no’ to the possibility of having a player like him. I am in a privileged position with Rafael van der Vaart and Sergio Canales, although I would also like to have Ozil because he can give us more chances to play in different positions, by his versatility.
“But I do not care.”
The father of Mesut Ozil says they’ve agreed personal terms with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Werder Bremen chief Klaus Allofs insists Ozil is now not for sale.
But the player’s father, Mustafa, told Hurriyet: “Mesut and I stayed at the chalet of Florentino Perez in Madrid, he invited us and we were able to agree things really fast because almost everything we spoke about was agreed to.
“I liked his willingness to help my child to play for his club.
“I promised Florentino that if Werder Bremen kept Mesut from leaving now, come next year he will play for Real Madrid for free because his contract ends this season.
“He also now knows that our word is sacred and we are very responsible when deciding on such things.”
Fuckin hell , Real know how to tap up players.
@Just1n – makes you wonder why we didn’t make the same effort doesn’t it?
He’ll go to Madrid and then follow Jose to us when he takes over from Fergie. We’ll get him in the end, by heck we will… ahem.
UNDER LKHF THIS WOULDN’T HAPPEN
LKHF WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO BE SIGNED AS HIS EYES MAKE HIM LOOK A BIT MONG
[From Soccernet.com] Real Madrid have signed German World Cup star Mesut Ozil from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around €15 million.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_6318142,00.html
Real Madrid have announced that they have agreed a deal with Werder Bremen for rising star Mesut Ozil subject to a medical.
The 21-year-old shot to fame with Germany at this summer’s World Cup and Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson admitted his interest in the playmaker, whose contract in his homeland was due to expire in 12 months.
However, Ferguson has been beaten to the signature by old rival Jose Mourinho, who is now in charge at Real, after an undisclosed fee was agreed.
Bremen rejected an initial bid of under £10million from Real, much to the disappointment of Ozil, but it was then reported in Spain on Monday that an £11.5m fee was all but agreed.
Real have now confirmed the deal, with a short statement on their website reading: “Real Madrid and Werder Bremenhave reached an agreement for the transfer of Mesut Ozil.”
Bremen had forced Real to rush due to the intent of the Bundesliga club’s manager, Klaus Allofs, to play Ozil in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League qualifier against Sampdoria.
The youngster would therefore have been cup-tied for Real and Mourinho understandably wanted to avoid that scenario.
Ozil joins fellow Germany international Sami Khedira at the Bernabeu as Mourinho continues to reshape his inherited squad after arriving from European champions Inter Milan at the end of last season.
LKHF
FFS FERGIE FUCKED UP
LKHF
Finally this BOLLOCKS is over, ive said all along that Özil wouldn’t come to United and have been proved right.
We’ve missed out on a fucking bargain there
If Scholes calls it a day after this season then there won’t be another cheap, young, quality midfielder available next summer
I hope the club have a plan that doesn’t involve persuading/telling Scholes to carry on playing for another season
This will only strengthen the LKHF movement
we now have at least 12 members sid of course its strengthening it
LKHF
We’re closing in on MUST’s 160,000 members
wont take too long, especially when they read this
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_6318309,00.html
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has blasted the crazy money some Premier League owners have spent in recent years.
No one can top neighbours Manchester City’s spending with lucrative contracts going hand-in-hand with massive outlays on transfer fees.
This summer has proven no different for City with the likes of Jerome Boateng,Mario Balotelli, Yaya Toure, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov all making the move to Eastlands.
Ferguson is stunned by the amounts some clubs have spent and he expects no let-up in the short term as clubs continue to live the dream.
“Over the last two or three years we have seen very wealthy owners become part of football clubs and therefore go on this kamikaze effort to spend their money,” said Ferguson.
“It is amazing the amounts of money that are being bandied about in the present day game.
“Some people may think it could be dangerous. But if they have that kind of money, they are certainly using it.
“I don’t see it abating. The kind of spending we are seeing at the moment will be here for two or three years, until such time as they understand you can’t necessarily achieve all the time by spending.”
Youth
United were linked with the likes of Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil, who have both joined Real Madrid, and Ferguson insists the club’s approach to develop young talent from within will remain a cornerstone of their future.
“Young players develop if you are looking after them properly,” he continued.
“They do have a loyalty because they appreciate the education you give them as coaches. How we treat players is important.
“It is difficult to know what other clubs think. We are just the type of club who can do it.
“The foundations of this club were built on young people, going back to the 1950s. It has not really left.
“Maybe the difference is that other clubs don’t have the consistency in manager and staff that Manchester United have.”
PERSONALLY 7.5 MILLION ON BEBE AND 10 MILLION ON SMALLING IS CRAZY MONEY…….
FFS
LKHF
Shut it Fergie.
Waiting to kidnap Berbatov and then spending 30million on him is a fuckin waste. Once again the verbal diarrhoea flows freely from the “GOD” who practices hypocrisy as a reigion.
LKHF
If that’s the case, I don’t want a player like him at United. What a cocksucker.
Sid, why have we missed out on a bargain, not once has Özil said that he wants to play for United, not once in well known German Football papers and im not talking about Bild has anything been mentioned saying that he want to play in the premier league.
This interview was reported by all major football media and was originally conducted by The Sun http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/07/02/2005527/germany-werder-bremen-youngster-mesut-ozil-hints-at-premier
“To the top players the Premier League is attractive.”
“You look at what Manchester United and Chelsea have achieved over the last five years and you see it would be easy to be successful at two clubs like that.”
“I see what Michael Ballack achieved at Chelsea and the quality of players he played with and the temptation becomes obvious.”
From July 2 – long before Madrid publicly announced their interest
He was sold for £12.4m – bargain
The Sun Sid mate says it all as ive said looking at Interviews and the like here in Germany haven’t seen anything where he has stated that he wanted to play for us.
Bollocks. It’s easy to discredit The Sun but this story will have been released on the news wire – that’s why it was picked up by all major media. He said those words, accept it.
Ozil, in Germany, always maintained he was staying with Werder. He said he respected the fans and was looking forward to playing for them for another season.
But what he said to the rest of the world was completely different. So I’m not arsed what the German media because they were being fed the usual PR crap. He wanted to move to either Madrid, Barca, Chelsea or United, and he went to the Bullshaggers because we didn’t act quick enough back in July.
If the cunt wanted to come here then he would have done saying that we didn’t act quick enough is plain daft, whether we like it or not he never wanted to come to us accept it and it is easy to discredit the Sun there worse than the fucking Daily Mail
The cunt wanted to go to any of the 4 clubs he kept mentioning in the press
But as far as I’m aware (Ed might be able to clarify) we didn’t even put forward a bid
We declared interest publicly, sort of, but I don’t think a formal offer was made
Werder got one offer, apparently, and that was Madrid. Barca don’t need him because they’ve got Fabregas away on loan and Chelsea had an agreement with Ramires (and had already bought Bennayoun). Madrid probably waited to see if anyone else snapped him up a month ago, and when nobody did, they pounced.
It’s only us who really need someone in that position and we weren’t arsed
@sidney – We didn’t put forward a bid and were almost certainly never going to. Given that Fergie was interested and Ozil spoke about being proud to play for United it draws me to one of two conclusions: United either a) couldn’t afford an auction with Madrid b) no that’s it.
A higher bid would have accomplished nowt, if his preference was Spain.
And you said I was talking bollocks…
When?
Here… but in your defence you said shit!
No, no…
Read your whole post Lanky Bollocks… I agreed with the end statement, but you didn’t half take a round about route to get there.