Borussia Dortmund Target New Ilkay Gundogan Contract Amid Manchester United Talk

In a bid to dissuade their newest starlet from paying any mind to the rumours swirling around his signature, Borussia Dortmund will attempt to tie Ilkay Gundogan to the club with an improved contract.

According to German sports outlet Kicker, via Sky Sports, general manager Michael Zorc is hoping that both parties can reopen the channels of communication regarding the 23-year-old's commitment to the club.

Gundogan was in negotiations for a new deal but picked up a spinal injury in September and has been absent for the last three months.

In the report, Zorc notes:

"

Of course, we are very interested in signing a new contract with Ilkay Gundogan. Due to the injury that Ilkay Gundogan is out with at the moment, talks regarding a new deal have stalled, but we are keen to soon resume negotiations on a new contract.

"

During his injury, speculation around Gundogan's future has taken on a whole new form. It even emerged at one point that the playmaker had a pre-contract deal in place with Real Madrid, a rumour that was quickly denied by Gundogan's father, per the Mirror's Paul Gorst.

It's of course no secret that David Moyes is looking to strengthen the middle of his squad, and Gundogan could be one of those fitting the bill as a creative central midfielder.

However, Gundogan may be apprehensive about his chances of advancing at Old Trafford given the way that Shinji Kagawa's career has slumped since becoming a Red Devil.

As things stand, the midfielder's deal at Signal Iduna Park will expire in 2015, leaving just over 18 months until the creative asset becomes a free agent.

Gundogan is a local to Dortmund having been born in Gelsenkirchen, where he was once a part of the academy setup of his current club's fiercest rivals, Schalke 04.

Only in 2011, following spells with Bochum and Nurnberg, did Gundogan come to rest at his current location where, since 2011, the player has seen his stock go up and up.

With Mario Goetze now at Bayern Munich, Gundogan has been one of Dortmund's cheaper purchases in recent years but by no means one of their less valuable, filling in excellently as one of the club's more promising central stars.

It was Gundogan who scored the only goal of Borussia Dortmund's fruitless Champions League final against Bayern last season, stepping up to strike home the most high stakes of penalties.

Having gone from strength to strength in recent years, one can understand both why Manchester United would want to sign such a talent as well as why his current side would be so eager to hold on to his services.

According to Bild, via Goal.com's Alec Fenn, the midfield maestro is upbeat about his chances of returning to action, but there is so far no exact date of a recovery.