As well as the Gaitan stories this week the global sports media has been persisting with the speculation that a deal for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan to join Manchester United is nearing a conclusion.
The Mirror states:
Manchester United news and transfers: Red Devils ‘win the race for Ilkay Gundogan’
…deal for in-demand Dortmund fielder is reportedly through the door
The Express goes with:
Man Utd to announce Ilkay Gundogan deal THIS WEEKEND
And quotes the German club’s chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzk as saying:
“Gundogan will be leaving Borussia Dortmund this summer, that is a fact. I am very confident we will see various clubs coming in for him.
“It has not been our intention to see him leaving. It was his ambition to move clubs (this summer). Therefore we agreed. We will sell him.”
We think that he’s a technically lovely player – the biggest compliment you can pay him is that sometimes it’s genuinely difficult to work out which is his stronger foot – and the notion that he has a choice between Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester United suggests that he is rated highly in the highest echelons of the sport.
What’s more, at 24, he’s at a great age to offer his next club 8 years of service. He should also add to his 9 caps and 2 goals for Germany now that he’s fully recovered from the back injury which kept him out of the game for over a year.
Good Again : Ilkay is back to his best after back injury
Our main reservation is whether Manchester United need a player like this. While he is adaptable enough to play in several positions Manchester United surely need a specialist number 6 who can defend, destroy and start attacks with his passing. While we have no doubt that Gundogan can do the latter perfectly, we wonder whether he has the physical presence to do the defensive part convincingly, or whether he might be too easily swept aside by the powerful front lines that litter The Premier League.
Let’s take a look at the lad in action. Manchester United fans: An underwhelming signing?
DougT
May 30, 2015 at 12:41 am
Oh great
Another Hererrea
Touch him and he’s on the ground
Bring in Vidal or DeJong if nothing else is available
DougT
May 30, 2015 at 12:43 am
Please get us a player that can withstand the EPL
CB
May 30, 2015 at 5:46 am
please get Carvalho ASAP
Manuel
May 30, 2015 at 10:25 am
Please sign him quick before another club will… Gundogan, Otamendi and Kondogbia
Excellent Larry A
May 30, 2015 at 1:24 pm
I can’t wait to see Gundogan sign for us, we need a player of its kind. No doubt he will be a success in Man U.
Belly
May 30, 2015 at 2:34 pm
Specialist number six? That’s a centre back in England. The modified type we need is more a specialist number 4.
Mike z. Diakpo
May 30, 2015 at 3:34 pm
Amazing, he has lot to offer Oldtrafford
Mike z. Diakpo
May 30, 2015 at 3:38 pm
He’s amazing, I mean Gundogan is perfect ,don’t forget center back LVG.
KOBOKO
May 30, 2015 at 7:03 pm
LVG should get us the player’s that will make us a chalanger again like’s Gundogan, Otamendi, Awoniyi, Depay, Ruse, Clyne,