Over recent weeks the media furore linking Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan with a move to Manchester United has been gathering pace.

The Germany international is out of contract at Signal Iduna Park in the summer of 2016 and the Bundesliga side are keen to avoid a Robert Lewandowski-type situation where a major player leaves the club for free.

With Gundogan looking likely to leave Dortmund in the off-season, there is no doubting that he would be an excellent addition at Old Trafford.

With poise on the ball, excellent vision and high energy, his presence could well revitalise Louis van Gaal’s team.

However, the German’s injury record in recent seasons has not been good, with the playmaker spending more time on the sidelines than on the pitch.

As such, with an ideal midfielder in mind, here are three other options that could be a better fit for United...

Marco Verratti

The Italy international has developed from a raw talent into one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe in recent years and would be an ideal match for the type of player United are looking for.

Mobile, tenacious and possessing footballing nous beyond his young years, Verratti’s capture could give United a new midfield general for the next decade.

Although Paris Saint-Germain would be reluctant to sell, United have players that the French side have been reportedly monitoring and with oodles of cash to spend could work something out to bring the Italian to Manchester.

Touted as a potential successor to Andrea Pirlo in the Italian national set-up, Verratti can go down as one of the best of a generation if he continues at his current rate of progression.

Radja Nainggolan

United have been consistently linked with Roma’s Kevin Strootman over the last 12-18 months, but the Netherlands international has been blighted by severe knee injuries.

With the former PSV Eindhoven midfielder on the treatment table, the Serie A outfit have turned to Radja Nainggolan to fill his shoes, with the Belgian starring for the Stadio Olimpico team.

The former Cagliari enforcer has the attitude, presence and work-rate to be the new hard man of United’s midfield, but also contributes going the other way with a ferocious shot from distance and intelligent off-the-ball running.

Although Strootman would have been perfect for the Old Trafford outfit, his replacement at Roma could well be just as good and the next Belgian sensation in the Premier League.

Morgan Schneiderlin

Interest in Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin continues to be present in both sides of North London, but the France international would actually be a better fit for Louis van Gaal’s men.

The Old Trafford side are looking for a player with positional intelligence and a man to have a positive influence through his actions – Schneiderlin has been one of the best in the Premier League displaying these attributes in recent years.

Combative enough to win the ball back, the Frenchman is also a crisp passer of the ball and would contribute at both ends of the pitch for Van Gaal’s charges.

With it looking increasingly likely that Schneiderlin will leave St Mary’s this summer, United should be in the mix as a possible destination.