Nurnberg appear to have given up hope of keeping Germany Under 21 rising star Ilkay Gundogan beyond the end of the season.
Manchester United are reportedly monitoring the progress of the midfielder, while Bayer Leverkusen and Hoffenheim have also shown an interest in Gundogan, 20, who is under contract with Nurnberg until the summer of 2012.
Nurnberg general manager Martin Bader told Kicker: “It’s a scenario that Klaus Allofs (Werder Bremen general manager) recently experienced with Mesut Ozil (who joined Real Madrid in the summer).
“He kept trying to keep hold of him, but eventually, at some point, things were way beyond Bremen’s financial limits.
“We are also subject to economic considerations. It’s a fact that clubs from inside and outside the Bundesliga have learned about the exceptional qualities of Ilkay Gundogan.”
