Real Madrid want Oezil

Young Mesut Oezil was one of the stand-out performers of the German national team this summer at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. And such performances are bound to draw interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe - Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, FC Arsenal and Manchester United have all been linked to the 21 year old from Gelsenkirchen.

Now Spanish giants Real Madrid have taken that interest to the next level by making a first offer for Mesut Oezil to his current club Werder Bremen, but the German Bundesliga side have turned it down. Bremen's Director of Sport Klaus Allofs said, "We have received an unacceptable offer that does not even provide any basis for negotiations."

But this isn't the end of the road for negotiations as Mesut Oezil himself has said that he would love to move to the Spanish capital. Oezil said Saturday after Bremen's German Cup game in Ahlen, "When you have such an opportunity like this, then you want to take it."

Now Real Madrid will have to up their offer as Werder Bremen will also want to cash in on Oezil as he is a free agent at the end of next season which would mean he could leave the North German club on a free transfer. But there could be a deadline on Wednesday, August 18 as Werder Bremen face Sampdoria Genoa in a UEFA Champions League qualifier that day. And if Bremen use Oezil in that match, then he would be blocked for the 2010/11 season to play for another club in European competitions and that would render him somewhat useless to the aims of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has recently spoken highly of Oezil, "If he comes, it would certainly be excellent. Oezil would definitely help us." And this means Real's Director of Sport Jorge Valdano will go back to Bremen with an improved offer and see how the Germans react. Like in the case of Oezil's Germany team mate Sami Khedira and his old club VfB Stuttgart, in the end it was a matter of time and money. And Real Madrid surely have the deep pockets, only time could be a factor in this transfer. But when a player wants to leave the releasing club has little options but to let him go and take a hefty transfer fee.