Borussia Dortmund's 24-year-old midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has alerted potential suitors across Europe's top leagues, after revealing to the media that he is open to a move outside of Germany, where he has been since he was born. He won the Bundesliga back in 2012, but has grown frustrated due to a career stall as a result of a serious back injury that put him out of action for over a year.
His development was hampered by this, as he missed the 2014 World Cup whilst trying to regain his strength and overall fitness. Dortmund turned down an offer from defending Champions League winners Real Madrid two seasons ago, although it was suggested that the German was interested in a move.
Gundogan said this: "Real Madrid made an offer for me but my club refused it, at the time I had two more seasons on my contract. But also, my injury wrecked everything - I couldn't play for 14 months.
Now I want to look forward and make up for lost time with sporting success. Playing outside Germany is one of my big goals. If one day I leave here, I'd like to play in Spain or for one of the big teams in England."
This news will be of significant interest to the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid who have all been linked to the midfielder in past seasons - they'll be monitoring his progress in the Bundesliga to gauge whether or not they would make an approach to sign him sooner or later, as speculation travels fast.