BlSEdSHIUAAeTNR.jpg-largeIlkay Gundogan has tonight signed a contract extension with Borussia Dortmund, meaning that any possibility of United signing him this summer has now gone.

It was reported five days ago that he was ruled out of the World Cup with an injury to his back which has kept him out all season.

“Ilkay will not play at the World Cup,” said Klopp. “It is very hard for him to deal with. His back is better, it is all good, but it takes time to recover completely. We just have to wait.”

Gundogan has played in just one game this season, back in August, and was taken off with less than an hour played. There have been reports all season that he was ready to make a comeback, and he has been seen on the training pitch, but another appearance in the first team failed to materialise.

His contract was set to expire next summer, putting pressure on the German club to tie the midfielder down. Given that his injury situation is so problematic, it was unlikely that any other club, United included, would have been prepared to make a commitment to a long-term deal.

“I am very grateful that my club gives me the opportunity to continue to be part of this special team and this very special environment,” said the player. “I will do everything to help my colleagues again soon and can go very optimistic about the coming weeks and months.”

Maybe things could have been different if he had made his recovery in time but the player couldn’t afford to get in to the last year of his contract, with Dortmund the only club to put an offer on the table, when he has missed a year of football.

His extension is just for a year though, now expiring in June 2016, which is presumably because they are waiting to see just how long-term this back injury is. So maybe there’s a chance in the future, but for now, United fans should forget about him.