Transfer news: Borussia Dortmund keen to extend contract of Manchester United 'target' Ilkay Gundogan

The Germany international is the latest BVB player linked with an exit

Kit Holden
Monday 06 January 2014 14:18 GMT
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Borussia Dortmund are keen to extend the contract of German international midfielder Ilkay Gündogan as soon as possible.

With the club hitting the headlines this weekend over the impending departure of Robert Lewandowski - the Pole will join FC Bayern on a free in the summer - speculation has been growing in the German media over Dortmund's ability to hold on to their best players.

"Lewandowski's transfer shows that Dortmund can't keep up with Europe's elite" wrote Der Tagesspiegel on Monday, while Bild questioned whether Gündogan and Reus would be the next players that coach Jürgen Klopp would have to do without.

In an interview in Monday's edition of German bi-weekly kicker, Dortmund chief-executive Hans-Joachim Watzke insisted that the club are looking to agree a new deal with Gündogan "in the very near future". The player, who has been out for most of the season through a back injury sustained in Germany's summer friendly against Paraguay, is only just beginning to return to training of any sort. His current contract expires in 2015, and has been linked with a move to various clubs, most prominently Manchester United.

BVB's Director of Sport Michael Zorc admitted that Dortmund are "aware that other clubs are very interested in him".

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