What’s less surprising is the number of English clubs coveting Bundesliga stars after their impressive performances in South Africa. A quick glance at the various transfer rumour columns and websites and you can see just how in demand German players are right now (you know, assuming you choose to believe the rumours).

Here’s a quick list of who wants who:

• Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen) – Arsenal
• Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart) – Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid
• Lucas Podolski (Cologne) – Manchester City
• Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich) – Manchester United

And that’s just today. Expect many, many more between now and the start of the new season. It’s not just the Germans in demand of course. Holland’s Wesley Sneijder is being linked with Manchester United and players from all the World Cup quarter finalists are apparently wanted by everyone from Arsenal to Wolves.

Yes, England are out of the World Cup so the press rumour mill has geared up to fill the column inches. How many will actually come to fruition? Not bloody many, as always.

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