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BORUSSIA Dortmund have announced the signing of Shinji Kagawa from Manchester United on a four-year contract.
Kagawa was deemed as surplus to requirements by the new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and has struggled to find a place in the starting XI ever since joining the club from Dortmund in 2012.
Manchester United are keen to offload high-earning fringe players go following the purchase of Ángel di María for £59.7m, and the futures at Manchester United of Danny Welbeck, Tom Cleverley and Javier Hernández hang in the balance today while Louis van Gaal is already working on targets to sign in January as the manager believes the squad still requires further rebuilding.

Van Gaal has not ruled out a late move for Juventus’s Arturo Vidal or any further strengthening before 11pm today despite high-ranking sources at United claiming there is a “very low probability” of more signings. Daley Blind’s confirmation as a United player, assuming he passes a medical and agrees personal terms, for around £15m from Ajax will take United’s summer spend to £145.7m, with Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo and Angel di María having already joined.

Tottenham Hotspur are the favourites to sign Welbeck, with Arsenal’s need for a striker following Olivier Giroud’s long-term injury potentially tempting them to consider the 24-year-old. However Welbeck may remain at United, as could Cleverley, who is wanted by Aston Villa. The midfielder’s contract expires in May and although he earns a basic £30,000 a week, considerable add-ons make his United deal lucrative so he is considering whether to stay and leave as a free agent in May, should he still be out of favour. Hernández is of interest to Juventus.

Despite United sources saying that Van Gaal is “pleased” with the summer recruits, the Dutchman is working on targets for the January and summer windows. As reported by the Guardian in June Kevin Strootman, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, is the manager’s prime target for the winter window, with the Roma midfielder keen on a move to United. — The Guardian