Manchester United Transfer News: Ilkay Gundogan Deal Expected, Latest Rumours

Manchester United are expected to confirm a deal for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan next week.

The German recently rejected a potential move to Paris St-Germain and laid out his demands to Dortmund if they were to keep hold of him, per German outlet Bild (h/t Bundesliga writer Clark Whitney):

But Gundogan is reportedly now set for Old Trafford. Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc has said he expects to announce a player departure next week, and the Express' David Wright indicates he is referring to Gundogan's move to United: "We will have players leaving our club this summer. There will be some action in the turn of next week."

Wright suggests that the Red Devils had a £21.5 million bid for Gundogan accepted earlier this month, and they have since been agreeing personal terms with the 24-year-old.

Having previously stated he would leave the club this summer with only a year left on his contract, Gundogan's future became less clear when his uncle and agent, Ilhan, suggested he may stay on at the Westfalenstadion, per German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung (h/t Tom Sheen in the Independent): "This is clearly an option again [that Ilkay could stay at Dortmund]. There are several things in favour of Ilkay finding back to his old level and doing that in a familiar, comfortable environment."

However, it seems that United boss Louis van Gaal has eventually got his man despite interest seeming to have cooled.

Gundogan is only now playing his way back into form having missed 14 months through back injury up until December.

He could be a fine asset for United in the centre of midfield, perhaps playing in front of Michael Carrick in the deep-lying role.

However, as explained by Bleacher Report's tactics expert Sam Tighe, Gundogan does not represent a long-term replacement for 33-year-old Carrick in the "controller" role:

A far more appropriate signing for United in that particular area would be Southampton's Morgan Schneiderlin, who is apparently on the verge of a move to Old Trafford, per Jeremy Cross in the Daily Star. 

Van Gaal looks set to, once again, splash the cash in the summer transfer window. This is unsurprising, as having returned to the Premier League's top four last term, United will now want to fight for the title.

Gundogan would add variety and power to United's midfield, but he may not be an instant success. He will take some time to adapt to the Premier League, while his long-term injury could still cause him problems.