Shinji Kagawa: Signing Will Give Manchester United's Offense a Much-Needed Boost

It's not a done deal yet, but when Manchester United inevitably completes a deal for Shinji Kagawa, its offense will be very thankful.

After finishing second in the Premier League but failing to win the Champions League, it was clear the Red Devils needed to add an offensively dangerous midfielder to the roster—particularly after losing the Eden Hazard bidding war to Champions League victor Chelsea.

It appears Man U has found their answer in Kagawa.

The BBC and a host of additional outlets are reporting that the Red Devils are close to signing the Japanese midfielder, who made it clear to Borussia Dortmund that he wouldn't be re-signing with them once his contract runs out at the end of next year. As a result, Dortmund has been eager to squeeze out as much money as they can in exchange for their star.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that Manchester United is offering something in the neighborhood of  €22 million in order to acquire Kagawa, increasing their original offer of €18 million after it was rejected by Dortmund.

According to the Daily Express, the team hopes to announce the move within 48 hours. The deal Manchester United is offering is reportedly worth four times as much as Kagawa's current salary.

Though the acquisition will certainly help Manchester United boost its popularity with Asian fans, the team's commercial director, Richard Arnold, insists the move was made only because of the boost Kagawa will contribute on the field rather than in terms of marketing.

Arnold told the Telegraph: 

"

When you look at the success we've seen in that part of the world it's not down to any one player. Ji's obviously been a very successful player, captain of the [South] Korean team. But for Manchester United it's more than any one player. He's picked for his merits, not marketing. The overwhelming majority [of South Korean United credit-card holders] choose the club's imagery rather than a player. We don't sign players to sell shirts. We are reliant on 25 players and they are all massive stars. 

"

Manchester United may have plenty of stars, but few of them bring what Kagawa offers in terms of offense. He tallied 13 goals and 11 assists for Dortmund this season, which is particularly significant considering that no midfielder on the Red Devils managed more than eight goals last season.

Kagawa may increase Man U's visibility in certain markets, but his impact on the field will be far more significant for the Red Devils. He could give them precisely the finisher they desperately need.