Shinji Kagawa has opened talks over a new deal with Borussia Dortmund, according to his agent.
Sought-after youngster looking to extend stay at German club
Highly-rated forward Shinji Kagawa has opened talks over a new deal with Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, according to his agent.
The 22-year-old Japan international is already contracted at Signal Iduna Park until 2013, but the German club are keen to tie him down on a longer deal after his impressive performances last season.
Kagawa, who joined Dortmund from native club Cerezo Osaka last summer for £250,000, scored eight goals in 17 games last term before a foot injury sustained at the Asian Cup in January saw him sidelined for almost the entire second half of the campaign.
Despite that setback, the youngster's displays for Dortmund in the opening half of the season reportedly turned heads across Europe, with Manchester United among those thought to be interested.
But Kagawa's agent, Thomas Kroth, says the player is likely to commit to Dortmund after opening negotiations with the club to extend his deal.
Talks
"Shinji Kagawa is able to imagine staying on at Borussia Dortmund," Kroth told
BILD.
"We have even had a first round of talks with Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc with regard to a new contract."
He added: "Shinji is actually contracted to Borussia Dortmund and he likes the club.
"He is absolutely looking forward to playing in front of the exciting Signal Iduna Park crowd in the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League in the new season."
