A Bundesliga move certainly looks on the cards for the 30-year-old centre back, who was allowed to leave Villa Park after his unsavoury antics during the Euro 2004 group decider with England in Istanbul seemed to make his position untenable.
"He was offered to us, and I made some enquiries about him, but I did not talk to him a single time," revealed Hertha managing director Dieter Hoeness.
"He won't sign for us because, unless a player gets seriously injured, we won't sign anybody during the winter break."
However, Werder have thrown their hat into the ring with sporting director Klaus Allofs telling Kicker: "We have asked about the terms for Alpay - it is certainly possible."
Alpay had confirmed the prospect of a switch to Germany by claiming on Monday that a move was in the pipeline.
"My agent and I have an offer from Hertha Berlin," he disclosed. "But Hamburg and Monchengladbach are also interested."
