By DAN KARELL

Real Madrid are eying another of the world’s top attacking talents for next summer’s spending spree.

The club have been thoroughly scouting Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus for three years, and thanks to having the same agent as current Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos, Los Blancos are confident that they can find an agreement with Dortmund next summer, according to a report in Marca.

Reus’s contract goes through 2016, making next summer a good time to pressure Dortmund into a possible sale, in order to not lose Reus to a free transfer, such as Robert Lewandowski did this past summer.

Though he’s spent much of the last five months out with a variety of ankle injuries, Reus is still regarded as one of the top midfield talents in the world. The 25-year-old was expected to play a major role with Germany at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil, only to miss out after tearing ligaments in his ankle the day before the squad left for South America.

Last season, Reus scored 16 goals in 30 Bundesliga games, and added seven more in all competitions for Dortmund.

Here are some more stories to start your Thursday:

OZIL OUT UNTIL 2015, GIROUD BACK IN TRAINING

Arsenal received both good and bad news this week to two of their key players.

Speaking at an awards ceremony in Malaysia on Wednesday, midfielder Mesut Özil said that his knee injury will keep him off the field until Jan. 2015 at the earliest. Özil was diagnosed with a partial tear in his left knee on Oct. 8 and was expected to miss 10-12 weeks rehabbing the injury.

“I’ve been out injured for five weeks, and I will miss another seven weeks,” Ozil reportedly said. “That’s a long time, indeed. Sadly, I am ruled out because of my knee. But it is like that in football sometimes. Chin up, and move on.”

On the plus side for Arsene Wenger’s squad, forward Olivier Giroud returned to full training after suffering a broken leg in just the second week of the English Premier League season.

PELE HOSPITALIZED WITH STOMACH PAINS

Three-time World Cup winner Pele was hospitalized on Wednesday evening and missed a scheduled event, according to Brazilian media.

The 74-year-old former Santos and New York Cosmos star was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital in São Paulo as a precaution after suffering stomach pains. He’s expected to be released shortly.

Pele was set to be honored at a museum for his career at Santos. The event is expected to be rescheduled.

QUICK KICKS

Juventus are ready to give veteran midfielder Claudio Marchisio a contract extension through 2019. (REPORT)

Atletico Mineiro took a two-goal lead over Cruzeiro after beating the Brazilian champions, 2-0 in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil. (REPORT)

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira claims he would like to remain in Madrid and is negotiating a contract extension with the club. (REPORT)

Tottenham youngster Eric Dier has pulled out of an England Under-21 camp after speaking with manager Gareth Southgate. (REPORT)

Arsenal’s Abou Diaby could miss another three months of action after tearing his hamstring in training. (REPORT)

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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Reus fitting into Real Madrid’s squad? Can Arsenal move up in the standings without Ozil for the packed holiday season? Worried about Pele?

Share your thoughts below.