United Make Offer To German Midfielder, Player Confirms Decision Will Be Made Soon

With the January transfer window now open for business clubs will be working hard to try and strengthen their squad for the second half of the season, so we’ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, more on Manchester United pursuit of Ilkay Gundogan.

Manchester United have made an offer to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and the player has confirmed he’ll be making a decision over his future soon, according to reports in Germany.

The German international has been in superb form for Dortmund since joining from FC Nurnberg in 2011, helping the club lift the Bundesliga title in 2012 as well as making it all the way to the Champions League final last year.

However, his contract is due to expire in 2015 and so far he’s been unable to agree terms with Jurgen Klopps men over an extension, despite the club doing their utmost to secure his long-term future.

German newspaper Bild is claiming that Dortmund have presented him with a final offer but face stiff competition from both Manchester United and Real Madrid, who have also submitted offers to the 23-year-old midfielder.

The report suggests Dortmund will sell in the summer for around £30m if Gundogan refuses to sign an extension, while there is also the possibility of a swap deal involving Madrid’s Karim Benzema.

So it seems Gundogan has his pick of three of the biggest clubs in Europe and he’s now confirmed to Bild that he’ll be making a decision over his future soon, but admits it’s still ‘really open’:

“I will soon make a decision that will be well considered. It’s still really open.” Gundogan is quoted as saying in Bild.

Dortmund are understandably desperate not to lose another key player having already seen Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze agree to join rivals Bayern Munich recently, and Bild state that the clubs hierarchy are determined to get a final decision from the midfielder soon to prevent another saga unfolding.

However, Gundogan insists that he’ll give his best to the club while he contemplates his future. He continued:

“I’m trying to be healthy and to bring my performance on the court. This is important and a top priority for BVB and for me. “

Gundogan has missed practically the entire first half of the season because of a serious back injury and his comeback at the weekend was delayed once again due to severe bronchitis.

United have endured a difficult season themselves so far and fans have been calling out for the club to invest in the squad. While Gundogan would certainly be a major coup if the champions could pull it off, any potential deal wouldn’t go through until the summer so David Moyes would either have to wait for the German and see-out the remainder of the campaign with the squad he’s got, or bring someone in this month who’s going to contribute during the second half of the season.

Gundogan is probably worth waiting for, but it would be a huge risk for Moyes not to buy in January as the team currently sit seventh in the Premier League table and are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.

ALSO READ: Moyes holds talks over £40m midfielder

Would you be prepared to wait for Gundogan? Or do the club need someone now? Share your views below.