Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Manchester United transfer news: Shinji Kagawa could be offered way out of United with Atletico Madrid showing interest in midfielder

Kagawa has struggled to tie-down a regular spot in the United side and could leave after two years with the club

Jack de Menezes
Sunday 03 August 2014 02:04 BST
Comments
Shinji Kagawa is a reported transfer target for Atletico Madrid
Shinji Kagawa is a reported transfer target for Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid could move for Manchester United misfit Shinji Kagawa after ruling themselves out of the hunt for Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla as they look to strengthen their La Liga-winning side.

Atletico are going through somewhat of a re-building phase, with key players Diego Costa and Felipe Luis leaving for pastures new at Chelsea while influential goalkeeper Thibault Courtois returned to the same club after his loan deal expired.

Having already brought in £22m striker Mario Mandzukic and Antonio Greizmann for around £24m, Atletico’s club president Enrique Cerezo ruled out a move for Cazorla as well as Fernando Torres and Javier Hernandez, but it is reported that Diego Simeone is keen on bringing 25-year-old Kagawa to the Vicente Calderon.

The Japanese international joined United in 2012, but he has struggled to tie down a regular place in the starting line-up under both Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes, and Louis van Gaal has made it clear that £37.1m signing Juan Mata will be his chosen No 10 in his 3-5-2 formation – leaving little room for Kagawa.

Should the Spanish champions move for Kagawa, who is also attracting interest from his former club Borussia Dortmund, it is thought that around £13m would be enough for United to part ways with the 58-time capped midfielder.

Kagawa was been deployed out wide on occasion, but it is a role he is not comfortable with and he would much rather play in his favoured position just behind the frontman – in this case either Robin van Persie or Wayne Rooney.

However, January signing Mata looks set to make that role his own, and Rooney and youngster Adnan Januzaj also capable of fulfilling the position and ahead of Kagawa in the pecking order, it is hard to see where Kagawa will find regular action in his natural position.

Germany side Wolfsburg are also believed to be in the hunt for Kagawa.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in