Manchester United Lifted as Gundogan Camp Dismiss Latest Bayern Munich Approach
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has not spoken to any other club and remains focused on recovering from injury, amid interest from Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Gundogan, 23, has not played since the first day of the season due to a troublesome back injury but his unresolved contract situation at the Westfalenstadion has kept clubs across Europe poised to make a move.
After Mario Gotze left Dortmund to join Bayern last summer and with Robert Lewandowski set to join him at the end of the season, reports from German magazine FOCUS suggested the Bavarian giants has identified Gundogan as their next target, with the midfielder's contract due to expire in June 2015.
But when asked if the German international had held any talks with Pep Guardiola's side, Irfan Gundogan, the midfielder's father and consultant, told Ruhr Nachrichten: "There was no negotiations with Bayern. We have always said that Borussia Dortmund is our first point of contact. The boy's health is now the first priority."
Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc was also dismissive of reports of talks between Gundogan and their arch rivals. "We are not talking with FOCUS (the publication that suggested negotiations were underway) or any other media about our players, but with the players directly."
Reports suggest United manager David Moyes sees Gundogan as a long term solution to the club's well documented frailties in central midfield. The club appeared to hold fire on their attempts to strengthen the problem area during the January transfer window but are expected to add at least two options in the summer.
In addition to Gundogan, his international teammate Toni Kroos remains linked with a move to Old Trafford. Similarly, the Bayern Munich midfielder is also out of contract in 2015, but will wait until after the World Cup to decide whether to renew his stay at the Allianz Arena or seek a new challenge.
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