Borussia Dortmund are increasingly likely to sell Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester United, to avoid losing him to FC Barcelona on a free transfer.
After choosing not to extend his current deal at the Signal Iduna Park, which expires next summer, Ilkay Gundogan had made ‘informal contact’ with FC Barcelona, leading many to regard him as Xavi’s long term replacement. With talks having broken down, Manchester United seems the most likely destination for the German international
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Given their current transfer situation however, it is believed that Gundogan is averse to the idea of training with the first team for six months, and then joining the team in January. Gundogan would rather play professional club football during that time. Dortmund are also unwilling to lose their star midfielder go for free, next summer, leaving the door open for Manchester United to make them move.
Barcelona have looked to move on from Gundogan, as they have confirmed their interest in Juventus midfielder, Paul Pogba.
Having been the bookmaker’s choice to replace Michael Carrick, Ilkay Gundogan has been heavily linked to a move to Manchester. Despite his back injury, keeping him out for most of 2014, Gundogan’s return to form has been imperative to Dortmund’s ascension back into European competition, from the brink of relegation just months earlier.
Despite bwin’s twitter gaffe, that welcomed Gundogan to United, the former English champions are not easing their effors to sign the Dortmund midfielder.
His wage demand of around a 10 Million a year, is less of a stumbling block for United, as they hope to make the German International their second marquee summer signing.