Mesut Ozil to Manchester United: (Almost) Breaking News

This one isn’t just your typical “Transfer Rumor” story without at least some merit or substance. I’ve read a lot about Ozil going to Manchester United this summer and it keeps popping up.

Apologies to Tottenham, Manchester City, and Chelsea fans – but whilst those clubs are the “hot topics” this summer for various reasons (money spent over the past few years and going forward, Champions League qualification, titles won, etc.) Manchester United are still the top dog in the country historically – and seem a bit “under the radar,” this summer – strangely.

So, let’s give them a minute or two of our time:

• Ozil is an attacking midfielder who is only 21 years old and could come in and make an immediate impact on the Premier League. He scored 9 Bundesliga goals last season and looked great in the World Cup. He’s quick, technical, and likes one-on-one situations. He’s been compared to Messi, but let’s not get crazy here. He can operate centrally in an attacking role (think Scholes in his prime) and take a man on down the flank (think Giggs in his prime). If he comes close to winning half the honors Scholes / Giggs won in their careers, he will be a legendary Old Trafford success story.

• Everyone is talking up Manchester City and Chelsea this summer, but United’s first team squad has a load of attacking options for the Fantasy Premier League. We spoke about Berbatov (8.5M) just a few days ago but Valencia (8.5M), Nani (8M) and Rooney (12M) will also be popular selections. I expect Ozil to be priced between 8M and 9M if he shows up at Old Trafford.

• The squad is pretty deep. If everyone was fit to start the season I would line up with Van der Sar in goal, Rafael on the right, Ferdinand and Vidic in the middle, and Evra on the left. An amazing back line. In the midfield, I’d take Fletcher and Carrick in the middle protecting the back four and playing a tough, team box-to-box style, and Nani and Valencia on the wings, up front I’d put Berbatov and Rooney.

• That starting XI would still leave the likes of Anderson, Giggs, Evans, and Scholes on the bench. Not to mention J.S. Park, O’Shea, Wes Brown and Hargreaves. Great squad depth at United. What’s missing is perhaps that extra “world class” player like Rooney in attack or in the midfield, rather than a collection of Premier League battle tested “very good” players…

• Is Ozil that extra “world class” player in the attack that takes United back to the top of the table?

I haven’t even mentioned the youngsters: Welbeck, Smalling, Diouf, Macheda, Cleverley, Gibson, and Obertan could all walk into any Championship side today and many of the bottom half Premier League sides despite their youth.

So there you have it. Sir Alex hasn’t made waves this summer in the transfer market. Manchester United didn’t win the league last year. They lost Ronaldo and Tevez a summer ago and thus lost some of the star quality / media attention. The press are stuck on Manchester City, on Torres, on Drogba, on Joe Cole and others – but this team is still an amazing side with incredible depth of squad.

The fantasy prospects are bright for Manchester United this season and despite City’s investment, I think the red side of Manchester can be confident heading into the new season.

And with Ozil added to the mix, this team is a title contender once again.