Kagawa edges closer to Old Trafford after Dortmund confirm ace is leaving
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa is set to leave the club this summer after turning down the offer of a new contact.
The Japan international still has a year left to run on his current deal with the Bundesliga champions, but he is a player in demand - he has been heavily linked with Manchester United - and Dortmund are unlikely to want to run the risk of losing him for nothing next year.
Impressive: Alex Ferguson watched Shinji Kagawa in German Cup final
I had a meeting with his agent yesterday morning and Shinji Kagawa has informed us that he will definitely not be extending his contract,' Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc told the Bild newspaper.
'Should we now receive offers for Kagawa, then we will consider and negotiate them.'
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan were present at the DFB-Pokal final at the weekend as 23-year-old Kagawa scored in Dortmund's 5-2 win over Bayern Munich.
Silver service: Kagawa with the trophy
Kagawa will command a significantly higher fee than the £280,000 Dortmund paid Cerezo Osaka for him in 2010.
He has scored 21 goals in 49 Bundesliga matches, playing a key role in the club's back-to-back league titles.
'My greatest achievement!' Pardew hails LMA award after taking Newcastle back into Europe
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has hailed his League Managers Association (LMA) Manager of the Year award as the highlight of his managerial career so far.Pardew picked up the gong on Monday night and was also named Barclays Manager of the Season.
The former West Ham and Charlton manager has earned plaudits this term for taking Newcastle back into Europe with a fifth place finish - just missing out on the Champions League spots.
All smiles: Pardew poses with his Barlcays award for manager of the year
Pardew told Newcastle's official website: 'It is an incredible honour to be named Manager of The Year by the League Managers Association.
'Coming from my fellow managers, this really is as good as it gets and has to be the highlight of my managerial career so far.
'This award is not just for me though. Everything we have achieved at Newcastle United this season has been achieved as a result of an incredible team effort.
'The board, my coaching staff, backroom team, players and our magnificent supporters - they all play a crucial role and I thank every one of them.'
New kid in Toon: Newcastle have been mighty impressive this season
At least it's something to celebrate! Clean sweep for Valencia at United awards bash
Manchester United may have ended the season empty handed, but for Antonio Valencia there was a small personal triumph with which to console himself.
The winger, who cost United £16million when he moved to Old Trafford from Wigan in 2009, was named both fans' and players' player of the year as well as scooping the goal of the season award for his strike against Blackburn in April.
Valencia was presented with the Sir Matt Busby award after polling 37 per cent of a vote on the club's official website.
Clean sweep: Antonio Valencia won all three of the main prizes at Manchester United's end of season do
'I am very happy to receive all three awards,' Valencia said. 'After last night, the longest night of my life, I will take heart from this.
'There should be 20 of these awards because all of my team-mates deserve one. I'd like to thank them and to thank my fans at home in Ecuador and Manchester United fans everywhere.'
Wayne Rooney finished as runner-up with 24 per cent, while Paul Scholes, who it was announced would play on another year, came third with 12 per cent.
Speaking at the event, Rooney insisted Manchester United will bounce back from Sunday's crushing Premier League title disappointment.
For a few precious seconds following the final whistle at Sunderland, United thought they had retained their crown and secured a 20th league championship, only for their dreams to be dashed by Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time winner for Manchester City.
It left United on 89 points, but condemned to runners-up spot on goal difference. Already Rooney is looking ahead to next season and the chance to reclaim the title.
Lads night out: Some of the players bought girlfriends (including Phil Jones, Federico Macheda and David de Gea - all above), while Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley arrived with their team-mates
He said: 'Sunday was a difficult day for everyone. One minute you think we have won the title, then we haven't, which was heartbreaking. That is how it goes sometimes. We have to believe in ourselves.
Rooney has no doubt where it all went wrong for the Red Devils as they tossed away an eight-point lead with just six games remaining.
'The biggest disappointment was the Everton game,' he said. 'To be 4-2 up, with 10 minutes to go and to lose that lead is disappointing.
Bouncebackability: Wayne Rooney delivered a speech to his down-trodden team-mates
That view was shared by central defender Rio Ferdinand.
'Sunday was a crazy day of emotions,' he said. 'I thought we had almost bagged it but then the impossible happened. We have to dust ourselves down and make sure we are in the right frame of mind.
'We have experienced players in the squad. We all have to learn and be stronger. You have to be together during the good times and the bad.'
City paint the town blue... but see red over Tevez gaffe as striker aims ill-advised barb at Sir Alex
Champions Manchester City were forced to apologise to Sir Alex Ferguson for a tasteless placard held up by their former United striker Carlos Tevez. The Argentine, who left Old Trafford in 2009, was caught on TV holding up a poster emblazoned with the taunt: 'RIP Fergie' as he joined his team-mates on an open-top bus tour of Manchester city centre.
Sign of the times: Carlos Tevez holds up a banner blasting Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson
The wheels on the bus: The City stars were driven off on a 1.8mile ride through the city
Although it is thought that the placard was handed to Tevez by a fan, City officials were horrified to learn of the stunt and offered Ferguson and United an apology.
Tevez later added: 'I got carried away in the excitement of the moment and I certainly didn't mean any disrespect to Sir Alex Ferguson, who I admire as a man and a manager.'
Turning Manchester Blue: City players were greeted with rapturous applause in Albert Square
Up for the cup: Vincent Kompany led the celebrations on the stage in the city centre
Hands on: Some players chose to chill out and lap up the applause while others took their own mementos
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