EXCLUSIVE: Give me Kagawa back, Klopp tells Moyes (but he warns United off his prized defenders)

Return: Shinji Kagawa's former boss Jurgen Klopp is keen to take the Japan star back from Manchester United

 Jurgen Klopp still wants to take Shinji Kagawa back to Borussia Dortmund but will not allow Manchester United to strengthen their defence by including Neven Subotic as part of the deal.

Kagawa has become a peripheral figure under recently-appointed United manager David Moyes, and a part-exchange involving Subotic was aired as a possible solution to his growing frustration.

But the idea was given short shrift by Klopp, who seems certain to adopt the same stance if Moyes switches his attention to the Serb’s defensive partner Mats Hummels.

When Sir Alex Ferguson attended the German Cup final nearly 18 months ago, Sportsmail revealed that he had hatched an audacious plan to try and sign Kagawa, Robert Lewandowski and Hummels.

The former United manager captured just one of his three targets, as Hummels was told he was going nowhere and Lewandowski’s head was turned by late interest from Bayern Munich.

After taking over from Ferguson in the summer, Moyes has made it clear he does not consider Kagawa an automatic starter after frequently leaving him out and substituting him at half-time, following a rare start against West Brom.

Targets: David Moyes wants Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic (left) as part of a deal for Kagawa. Failing that his attention is tipped to turn to Mats Hummels (right), but manager Klopp (below) will veto the move

He is also desperately in need of a top-quality centre-back and would ideally like to recruit one in the January window.

It is unlikely to be Subotic, though, judging by Dortmund’s response to recent speculation.

‘Jurgen would love to have Kagawa back at the club and had made it clear the door is always open for him,’ said a source close to the Bundesliga club.

Out of favour: Kagawa (right) has voiced his frustration at a lack of game time under new manager Moyes

‘Shinji was quite emotional when he left and said he didn’t want to go but couldn’t turn down the chance of playing for United. Now it seems to have turned sour, he would be welcomed back with open arms.

‘But United can forget about Subotic. When it was put to the powers that be, it was rejected out of hand. Klopp doesn’t want to lose him. He’s only 24, despite all his experience, and is an integral part of the team.’