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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 17: Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Athletic Club de Bilbao at estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 17, 2012 in Madrid, Spain.
According to British newspaper The Daily Star, German midfielder Mesut Ozil is a reported target of Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City.
The 24-year-old was observed by City scouts when the Citizens played against them at the Santiago Bernabeu in the UEFA Champions League this season. Despite taking the lead in the game, City lost 3-2.
However, any further insight the Citizens could have gleaned from watching him play would not materialise. Ozil was an unused substitute against Roberto Mancini’s side when they went to play at the Etihad.
Former Spurs man Luka Modric started that game, and was hauled off in the second half to be replaced by Jose Callejon.
Ozil first rose to prominence in the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Germany and was one of Jose Mourinho’s first signings at Real Madrid, signing shortly after the showpiece tournament concluded in South Africa.
The former Werder Bremen man has amassed 19 goals in 55 appearances for Los Merengues, and has managed to supplant Brazilian maestro Ricardo Kaka from the Madrid starting lineup. However, his form seems to have taken a slight dip during the second half of last season and has continued through this one.
Manchester City, however, have a packed midfield, with Javi Garcia, David Silva, Samir Nasri, James Milner, Jack Rodwell and Yaya Toure, and accommodating Ozil in such a competitive lineup will not be easy for Mancini.
In addition, Ozil will surely not come cheaply, but accumulating the funds for the Schalke 04 youth product should not be a problem for City owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan.
