After Eden Hazard snubs Old Trafford, Fergie looks to swoop for 23-year-old German double-winning Japanese midfield ace
Manchester United are set to put their disappointment at missing out on Eden Hazard behind them by landing Japanese star Shinji Kagawa.
After having an initial offer knocked back by Borussia Dortmund last week, German magazine Kicker claims United have made an improved bid to the Bundesliga champions.
United's new offer for Kagawa is said to be worth £12.5million up front, rising to £18.3million.
Dortmund are resigned to losing the midfielder, who has just one year left on his contract, and are determined to squeeze as much money out of United to buy a replacement.
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Kagawa, 23, was one of the stars of their double-winning season and Sir alex Ferguson watched him score in their German Cup Final win over Bayern Munich.
Although United look set to agree terms with Dortmund, the deal could be held up because Kagawa is on international duty with Japan playing in some 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
He is not due to return to Europe until after Japan's final match on June 8.
Obviously it's not about shirts. I think first and foremost he must have the ability otherwise how many shirts he can sell won't warrant him a place in the limited squad of 25.
Fergie also won't bother to take the time out to personally watch him since April.
Secondly, it's a disrespect to him to suggest he is bought solely to sell shirts when he played a major roll in Borussia Dortmund winning the German title for the last 2 seasons.
However, there will sure be some who will still like to say so just like they did when United bought Park years ago... Park has proven it not to be the case when he has played in so many of United's big games over the years including the final of the CL.
But if his shirts sell, it's a bonus... He will probably be the biggest star since Hidetoshi Nakata to come out of Japan. Tho Nakata didn't had that much success on the pitch compare to Kagawa's so far relatively short spell in Europe. United must quickly close the deal before someone comes in to disturb.
The Red Devils were left disappointed on Monday night as top target Eden Hazard revealed he had chosen to join Chelsea this summer.
But boss Alex Ferguson is likely to get some consolation by snapping up Kagawa, 23. He made a personal check on the player as he starred in the German Cup final win over Bayern Munich.
The winger revealed he had spoken with the Old Trafford chief, while Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc said talks were ongoing on a deal that could be worth as much as £17.5m.
Okay lah. Definitely help to improve the United midfield.
Maybe buying him is the backup plan for failing to get Hazard.
Hazard was a trick used to redirect Chelsea and Man City from Kagawa.
No matter how you look at it Kagawa is a proven player.
Borussia Dortmund - 1st in Bundesliga
Lille - 3rd in Ligue 1
I want his shirt !!!
Will he be first 11 for man utd?
The Borussia Dortmund playmaker, 23, will seal the move later this month once a medical and work permit have been completed.
A United statement said: "We are delighted to announce that we have agreed terms with both Borussia Dortmund and Shinji Kagawa for his transfer to the club.
"The deal is subject only to the player passing a medical and obtaining a UK work permit.
"These conditions are anticipated to be completed by the end of June."
Kagawa, who is on international duty with Japan, said: "We still have two games left and the entire team is focused on these qualifiers.
"I'll talk about all of this once I am done here. I hope people will understand."
United defender Rio Ferdinand was delighted with the capture.
He wrote on Twitter: "Welcome to Shinji Kagawa for his transfer to Man Utd. Here's to a successful time here bro!"
Borussia sports director Michael Zorc was responsible for bringing the player to Dortmund in 2010.
And he said: "We would like to thank Shinji for his effort and his large contribution in two extraordinarily successful years."
Kagawa was named in the Bundesliga's team of the season for 2010-11 despite being absent through injury for half the campaign.
He then went on to score 16 goals last term, when Dortmund completed the domestic league and cup double.
United boss Alex Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan made a personal check on Kagawa last month.
They watched him grab one goal and create another in Dortmund's 5-2 German Cup triumph over Bayern Munich.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dg3Kdh_rtI&feature=youtu.be
Shinji Kagawa has become the fifth Japanese player signed by a Premier League club after Manchester United confirmed a deal to bring the forward to Old Trafford.
The Borussia Dortmund star will cost United up to £17million, representing a staggering profit of £16.7m for the Bundesliga side in just two years.
Kagawa follows Junichi Inamoto, Kazuyuki Toda, Hidetoshi Nakata and Ryo Miyaichi, but stands to be the one to at last shatter once and for all the stereotypical view that Far Eastern players are bought solely as a marketing tool.
And the stats bear this out.
Last season as Dortmund secured back-to-back Bundesliga titles, Kagawa was at the fulcrum of everything good in their play, carrying the burden of creativity in the absence, for the most part, of Mario Gotze.
In fact, no midfielder was involved in more top flight goals in Germany in the second half of the season than Kagawa, who this year alone registered nine goals (he scored 16 in total) and four assists.
He even scored against Arsenal earlier this season in the Champions League.
Of all those, perhaps the most important came in the DFB Pokal final. Kagawa scored inside three minutes to set Dortmund on their way to glory, a match watched from the stands by Sir Alex Ferguson.
On the international front, Kagawa, who featured in Japan's 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Oman recently, has scored a goal every three games since making his debut in 2008. And that's from a predominantly wide position.
At club level, Kagawa is comfortable anywhere across the line of attacking midfielders behind the striker.
So it's fair to say United have pulled off quite the coup in capturing the versatile forward.
So much hype....can or not. Wait become like veron.
gt any idea wad if kagawa didnt come Man U but is Mario Gotze who came?
Hope he can adapt well in EPL.
Valencia follows George Best and Eric Cantona into number seven shirt...
Come in No.7: Valencia will be handed the iconic shirt number this season
United's pre-season tour begins with two games in South Africa against AmaZulu FC and Ajax Cape Town before they move on to China to face Shanghai Shenhua, Norway where they will play Valerenga, Sweden to take on Barcelona and finishing in Germany against Hannover 96.
The travelling party has yet to be confirmed - as have shirt numbers for the majority of United's squad.
Only three have been confirmed so far with winger Antonio Valencia requesting the iconic seven shirt - worn by club greats such as George Best, Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo - after it became available following Michael Owen's departure when his contract expired this summer.
New signings Nick Powell and Shinji Kagawa will wear 25 and 26 respectively.
There could be some new additions to that squad list, however, as Ferguson is working on bringing in at least a couple more players before the start of the season.
When asked if he is hoping to make further signings Ferguson added: "Yes, there's a possibility.
"We're working on one or two things but there's nothing really to tell you to be honest.
"We always try to get our work done at the end of the season - we spent a good deal of time sorting the deal with Shinji and we'd agreed a deal with Nick Powell before the play-offs which was a good move by us because the boy had an outstanding final at Wembley.
"When you don't get deals done immediately and you're negotiating with a club over a long period, then you can't expect to just snap your fingers and get it done."