United close on Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan: Close to finalising move to Manchester United

Manchester United are close to agreeing a £21.5m deal to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, according to Sky sources.

Gundogan is out of contract at the end of the 2015-16 season and Dortmund are thought to be willing to sell this summer to avoid losing him for nothing, as they did when Bayern Munich signed Robert Lewandowski after the Polish striker's contract ran out.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who has won nine caps for Germany, has also been linked with a move to Manchester City and Arsenal but United are now close to wrapping up a deal.

Gundogan began his career with Bochum, before moving to Nuremberg. Dortmund signed him in May 2011, and he helped them reach the 2012-13 Champions League final. He scored a penalty in the final against Bayern at Wembley, though Dortmund lost the match 2-1.

He was sidelined for over a year with a mystery back problem which baffled doctors and forced him to miss Germany's World Cup triumph in Brazil. 

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal stated in February that he wanted to sign a creative midfielder in the summer and Gundogan, who is technically accomplished and a fine passer - as well as a tenacious tackler - certainly fits the bill.

He was signed by coach Jurgen Klopp - who will leave Dortmund at the end of the season - to replace Real Madrid-bound Nuri Sahin, and he initially struggled to make an impact.

But he made the breakthrough in the 2012-13 season, helping Dortmund to their first league and cup double, and the final of the Champions League the following season.

He has scored 15 goals in 123 appearances in the Bundesliga, and one goal - that penalty at Wembley - in 20 Champions League appearances.