Manchester United ‘handed Ilkay Gundogan boost’

The German international is set to leave Signal Iduna Park in the summer after he confirmed that he would not renew his contract, which is due to expire in the summer of 2016.

Dortmund will not want a repeat of the saga that saw Robert Lewandowski leave for arch rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer at the end of last season, so will almost certainly look to cash in on the midfielder.

Earlier this week Dortmund sporting director admitted that the player wants to leave the club, saying: "Ilkay told us he wants to leave this summer.

"But we have received no offers from any clubs for any of our players as of now."

According to reports last month, Manchester United were close to agreeing a deal to secure his signature, though they proved wide of the mark. However, it is believed that the Red Devils are keen on signing the 24-year-old, though they will face stiff competition from the likes of Bayern, Barcelona and a number of other high-profile European clubs.

Dortmund’s fellow Bundesliga side Wolfsburg were also tipped to make a summer bid, but the mega-rich club have now moved to dampen such speculation.

Sporting director Klaus Allofs told German newspaper WAZ: "Gundogan is not an option at Wolfsburg."

Louis van Gaal’s side are also keen admirers of defender Mats Hummels, though they could face a stumbling block in Dortmund’s long-standing policy of only allowing one star player to leave each summer.