Transfer speculation is always part and parcel of football during the summer with dozens of big money deals mooted in the media. The bigger the fees, the more sensational the headlines until the rumour dies a natural death and be replaced by another. Manchester United has always been at the forefront of this gossip with Sir Alex Ferguson forever expected to make some sort of a big announcement. Most have now been dead and buried with the exception of one which has been remarkable in its persistence – and there just may be a very good reason for it.
Reports have been circulating for days that Ferguson has his eyes firmly fixed on Werder Bremen’s German World Cup playmaker Mesut Ozil. Rather than fading away, these rumours appear to be gathering momentum with even the official club website announcing yesterday that United are now “the bookies’ favourites to sign Ozil. Skybet have the Reds at a mind boggling 1/5 to sign the German schemer which basically translates that bookmakers everywhere are virtually convinced he’s coming to Old Trafford.”
Respected German football magazine Kicker suggest that United are actually the only club prepared to bid for Ozil in the current transfer window. Expanding on yesterday’s rumours in the Spanish press that Barcelona and Real Madrid are happy to wait until January. The report claims that Werder Bremen are braced for a £12million offer from Old Trafford although they are keen to hold out for around £15million. Nevertheless the club is prepared to negotiate a fee before the transfer window closes because the player will be out of contract at the end of the season and runs a real risk of losing him for nothing.
Sir Alex is known to have been tracking Ozil before his World Cup exploits for Germany shot him to prominence. He fits the bill perfectly for United with his superb skill, passing ability and shooting power. Just as importantly for Ferguson, at the age of just 21, the midfielder represents the ‘value’ that he is so determined to obtain in his transfer dealings. Werder Bremen are resigned to losing Ozil and the player himself has suggested that he is tempted by a move to the Premier League. “I want to win trophies and there are two clubs in England, United and Chelsea, who win trophies” he said.
Apart from the outstanding football talent repeatedly shown in South Africa, Ozil is a third generation member of the fiercely proud Turkish community in Germany. He is also a practicing Muslim who recites the Koran before matches to help him focus admitting to the Berlin daily Der Tagesspiegel that “I always do that before I go out on the pitch. I pray and my team mates know that they cannot talk to me during this brief period.” That Turkish connection may just be the one that could help land Ozil at Old Trafford.
Commercial considerations are an important factor in the successful operation of a football club nowadays so one has to remember the fact that Manchester United signed a lucrative three and a half year sponsorship deal with Turkish Airlines in March this year. The company runs an aggressive marketing campaign and will be delighted to see a player with the cultural background of Ozil wearing the red shirt of the club.
That theory may all be highly speculative of course but it just may be sufficient to give a decisive edge to Ferguson if he wants to sign the player badly enough. And that, quite frankly, is the key to any possible transfer deal taking place.
Does Ozil represent the ‘good value’ that Ferguson looks for?
The trouble with this rumour, is that it is getting boring. When just will Sir Alex strike? Benzema is certainly not an option. is he?
He sure represents the value pur gaffer so despereratly looks fore!
Ozil…hmmm,am nt 2 sure fergie wants him as bin speculated in d media..Lets jst appreciate what we have in Cleverley,IMO.
i think ozil is the best option available right now .. he is young .. skillful & committed to religion .. & all of these are reasons of success .. so i hope he joins us soon .. because we dont have a real playmaker at the moment & ozil is the ideal choice …!
He has already done the deal to go to Real Madrid, so forget it and stick with the ginger magician Scholes.
It’s a nice theory. I just hope the marketing men at United and Turkish Airlines read this blog and put the wheels in motion for the most logical transfer in history!
I wil be happy 2 see ozll at man united. Bless 2 all man u lover’s
Great Article on why we should sign Oezil.
Not only have we been tracking him prior to the World cup where as you say he was magnificent.I understand also United tried to sign him when he was 18.
He in my honest opinion is the final piece of the Jigsaw to serve Manchester United with a continued haul of Cups for many years.Our youths are the envy of everybody in the Premiership.
I truely believe we have most bases covered.Goal keeper aside, thats a seperate debate.
We do certainly need that link from the forward midfield to find wayne or Dimiatar or Javier.
I think our defensive midfield taking all the players into account is second to none in the Premiership and have enough talent to cover injuries.
I have always looked at Chelsea and what they have in potency over ourselves and I hate to admit it, but will again. Its Lampard and his goal scoring prowess for Chelsea.We simply dont have that and I simply dont see a United midfielder in the present squad who can provide 20+ goals per season. like Lampard.
We all know Oezil will not defend(nor does Lampard but thats not necessary when you have the players of the quality of Fletcher, Scholes, Gibson, Cleverly etc etc.
I agree its a great signing if we truely have the money and i cant see any better “No Value in the market” player who has indicated he would love to be part of our fantastic club.
I note in the final part of your Article which is rather sad you add the Commercialism which comes with Oezil.To think at one time we just enjoyed football and admiring great skills and talent. It now also must be encompassed with some add on’s financially.
There is a great Article on United Rant regards player add on’s and why United under the Glazer might sign them for additional commercial reasons.
Believe.
i will be happy to see Ozil at man utd. But, somehow i belief that SAF won’t make any move. he’s got plenty of options in midfields at the moment. With the improved young Cleverly and Gibson, it will be difficult for SAF to weigh his decision. i think he’ll stick to the players in his pre-season squad.
Very true RedScot. Sad but in 2010 a reality which must be accepted.
ozil is the available right now for man utd and he is very fantastic player that can play the fantastic midfidals like carrick,if he play carrick they will be or ozil my be the soccer of man utd
i am ogaden
While I agree with all about the fanastic qualities of ozil as well as his cheap transfer price, I think the best part of it all is that he’s leftfooted and is versatile enough to play lw, cm, am, and as a second striker. Ironically, all positions of need in uniteds two main formations, 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 (although saf claims it’s a 4-3-3). If fergie signs him, were favorites. If he doesn’t then the money is really gone bc ozil rejects all of saf usual excuses. My ideal lineup next year will be a 4-4-2 with a diamond mf. Vds, Rafael, vidic, rio, Evra, fletch at dm, Valencia right, nani left, ozil am, Rooney and chicarito up top. Or put nani at rm, Valencia on the bench, scholes at cm and ozil on the left.
fergie wont sign ozil lets face it…… We have a lot of his type….. Nani valencia obertan park clervely….. His a good talent bt i dnt think we need him that much like all u guys been yapping….. Get sneigder instead..
i think our coach should be serious about ozil coming to oldtrfford immediatly or he will loose contact with him entirely ,from eze in abuja thank you.