Real Madrid's Sami Khedira fights for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Dominguez during their first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid
Real Madrid's Sami Khedira (L) fights for the ball with Atletico Madrid's Alvaro Dominguez during their first division soccer match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid November 26, 2011. REUTERS

The German national team may not have lived up to their pre-tournament billing of being one of the favourites for the title but Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira's tireless performances have alerted Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and manager Jupp Heynckes has reportedly identified the former Stuttgart player as a priority target.

The 25 year old Khedira, who has more than 30 caps for the national team, transferred to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2010, for an undisclosed fee, and has since established himself as a first-choice pick in Jose Mourinho's star-studded side, alongside Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso. Khedira made 42 appearances, in all competitions, for Madrid and had an excellent 2012 European Championship, scoring a wonderful volleyed goal in the quarter final against Greece.

A report by ESPN states Munich are willing to offer the player a chance to play in a more advanced role than he does now at Madrid, something he is thought to be interested in. Meanwhile, Mourinho is understandably reluctant to let his player go and will only consider a deal if Munich allow another German international, Bastian Schweinsteiger, to move the other way.

Mourinho is a self-confessed admirer of the dynamic Munich midfielder and has previously urged the Real Madrid board to make an approach for the Bavarian. There was talk of a move a few years ago, when Mourinho's efforts to sign either Liverpool's Steven Gerrard or Roma's Daniele De Rossi failed. At that point, ESPNStar reported Madrid would have to meet the player's release clause of €55 million, since Munich were unwilling to sell.

If Madrid and Mourinho are genuinely interested in Schweinsteiger, they may have to contend with attention from one of the Portuguese tactician's former clubs - Chelsea. The Blues' owner, Roman Abramovich, was spotted talking to the player at a training camp for Germany during the recently concluded 2012 European Championships. Both player and German national coach Joachim Low dismissed the meeting as unimportant.

"I was surprised to see him and wondered why he was here. I've congratulated him (on Chelsea beating Bayern Munich for the 2011/12 Champions League) and we had a brief chat. No, he didn't make me an offer," the midfielder was quoted as saying by Goal.com.

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