United move early to beat Arsenal to Kagawa

Manchester United have reportedly made a £13.6million bid for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa, to ward off interest from Arsenal.

Goal.com are reporting that Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to make his move after hearing of growing interest from Gunners boss Arsene Wenger last week.

According to the report, the Old Trafford club are keen to tie up the deal quickly in order rule out any chance of the Japan international being lured to Emirates Stadium.

Kagawa has only a year left on his BVB contract and the club have already indicated he made it clear he would not be signing an extension to it.

The 23-year-old has played an integral part of Borussia Dortmund’s success over the past two seasons, in which Jurgen Klopp’s side finished top of the Bundesliga twice and won the DFB Pokal to secure the club’s first ever domestic double.

Kagawa was especially impressive in the latter past of last season when Mario Gotze, BVB’s foremost playmaker, was ruled out for a lengthy period.

Borussia signed him for just £280,000 in 2010, so the reported offer from United would prove a significant profit return.