Manchester United sponsors Bwin appeared to announce the signing of İlkay Gündoğan earlier this week, although have since made a u-turn.
The Premier League giants have been linked to the German international for a while now and appear to be inching ever closer to a deal for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder.
With the German side missing out on UEFA Champions League football next season, with Jürgen Klopp departing at the end of the season and with the club not expected to get close to Bayern Munich in the title race next season – a lot of stars are expected to leave Signal Iduna Park this summer.
United want at least two of those players – Gündoğan seems the most-likely and captain Mats Hummels is the other.
Following all the news in the media over the past 48 hours, the 24-year-old has posted an update on his Facebook this morning regarding his future.
Translated into English, it reads:
“Dear fans,
Normally I would not express myself to media reports, certainly not on Facebook. I would like to take this time to put some things your way and give you greater insight.
In recent weeks I read again and again like you, where I have already signed. Today in negotiations here, tomorrow doing a medical check there. At first I would chuckle about it, but when there was talk of “contract poker” and “rip-off” that painted me in a bad light. Yesterday an ominous number [regarding wage demands] appeared in the media and so I have now decided to say something about it.
The 2014-15 season strictly speaking only ends on 30.06.2015.Although so far there have hardly been any transfers completed in Europe, rumour to rumour I was supposed to have demanded more and more, putting off making a final decision. Forgotten was this: I have a year contract at Borussia Dortmund.
What is important to me: not gambling financially, nor a delaying tactic. As it goes for me personally, I’ll decide as soon as possible – but only after the season and our important qualifying game for the European Championship.
Until then,.
Your İlkay”
It doesn’t state that he will definitely be staying with Dortmund, so one can read into this that he is likely to leave. He will also decide on his future this summer, after Germany’s qualifier with Gibraltar tomorrow.
A few weeks ago it was also revealed that he won’t be signing a new contract with the German side, and now that he is heading into the final 12 months of his contract, a move away from Borussia Dortmund seems imminent.
Transfer fees have been rumoured between £11 million and £21.5 million for the 10-time German international who missed out on winning the World Cup last summer due to a back injury.
Given that he often plays the defensive midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 formation at Borussia Dortmund, he’s not a top holding midfielder in terms of breaking possession up of the opponents. He’s actually a better passer and creator than he is a tackler.
We’d see him going in the midfield four in front of Michael Carrick in United’s 4-1-4-1 formation rather than as the holding man. He doesn’t get involved in too many goals but does get involved in the build up. Likes to shoot from long range but isn’t successful too often.
Louis van Gaal wants two top players in every position so if Manchester United do land Gündoğan we see him being more of a backup, rotation guy than a regular.
Manchester United fans – would you be happy with this transfer?
Add Sportslens to your Google News Feed!
