Rumour: Barcelona send doctor to assess Manchester United target

Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan as Barcelona have sent a doctor to monitor and evaluate his injury.

The midfielder has been out injured since the first game of the season and doesn’t look like returning anytime soon.

Reports in Spain suggest that Dr Richard Pruna was not around as Barcelona’s goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, underwent medical assistance for his knee injury.

The reports claim that he was not present in Barcelona because he was in a meeting with Gundogan, who scored in the Champions League final last season.

Man Utd are known to be interested in bringing the 23-year-old to Old Trafford, with some reports suggesting that Shinji Kagawa could be included in a possible swap deal in the summer.

The Japanese midfielder has struggled to make any sort of an impact at United despite starring in Germany as Dortmund won the Bundesliga.

The latest development over Gundogan’s future may place Barcelona in pole position to sign him over the summer, but is injury must first be looked at and assessed.

Gundogan is one of the most highly-rated midfielders in Europe and attracted a lot of interest over the previous summer transfer window.

Gundogan has completed just 28 passes this season.