Manchester United Transfer News: Kagawa Lining Up €15m English Move

Shinji Kagawa is hoping to make the move to England next season, according to Borussia Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc, with the star a reported target for Manchester United.

After the retirement of Paul Scholes last summer, the Red Devils have been connected with a host of playmakers, including the likes of Wesley Sneijder and Mario Gotze, as a replacement for the Old Trafford legend was reportedly sought.

But no such signing was made, and Scholes made a shock return to the pitch at the end of last year to assist United in their mission to overtake Manchester City and chase after a record 20<sup>th title.

While Sir Alex Ferguson has continually spurned any suggestion that a replacement for Scholes is needed, the return of the 37 year old showed how much he and his position were missed by the squad.

And with that in mind, news from Zorc that Kagawa, a long-standing United target, wants a move to England will no doubt boost the club as they look towards making typically early buys in the summer.

"There will be a timely decision [on Kagawa's future]," Zorc told Bild.

"We would love to extend to his stay. When the ball is in the penalty area, Shinji transforms it. We know that he flirts with England and Spain."

The German paper believes that the fee for Kagawa will be in the vicinity of €15 million, which would come under United's budget, particularly with the Japan international having modest demands over wages.

Wage issues were said to be the reason that a deal fell through for Sneijder, with the Dutchman earning in excess of £200,000 per week at Inter Milan. With the extra tax breaks in Italy, United would have had to top that by a significant amount, making the star by far the highest paid player at the club before he'd even stepped onto the pitch.

But Dortmund are less outlandish with their player wages, and at the age of 23, Kagawa has already scored 13 times in 31 appearances for the side that have been dubbed the German Barcelona.

And Ferguson is well known for choosing players who have the potential to be future stars at United, as well as already demonstrating a high ability on the pitch.