Manchester United step up bid for Kagawa

Borussia Dortmund attacker Shinji Kagawa is in England and had discussions with Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old is expected to leave the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal winners this summer, with Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc having revealed that his client has turned down a contract extension past his current deal, which expires in 2013.

And after reports emerged on Tuesday that the player had flown to Manchester, agent Thomas Kroth confirmed talks with Ferguson.

Both Manchester United and Kagawa are interested in a transfer, Kroth is reported as saying, but the representative revealed that ‘the outcome is open’.

Thus far no other clubs have been closely linked with Kagawa, who is reported to be angling for an attractive offer from an English club.

Zorc, meanwhile, has confirmed that he is willing to listen to offers for the playmaker, with Dortmund reported to be holding out for a 15-million-euro bid.

Speculation linking Kagawa with a move to Old Trafford has been rife in recent weeks, with Ferguson having observed the Japan international during Saturday’s DFB Pokal final victory over Bayer Munich in Berlin.

Kagawa was a key figure in Dortmund’s title-winning season, scoring 17 goals and giving 13 assists in 42 matches in all competitions.