Barcelona is emerging as the favorite to sign Manchester City’s midfielder Ilkay Gundogan in the summer. According to The Athletic’s Pol Ballús, Barca’s head coach Xavi sees Gundogan as a perfect fit for his system and has told the club’s brass that getting the German international to Camp Nou is his top priority.
The La Liga giants find themselves in a tough financial situation, but this shouldn’t affect Gundogan, considering he will be available on a free transfer. The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract with City, and the reigning Premier League champions are still considering whether to keep him around.
The reason why Man City still didn’t give Gundogan an extension doesn’t have anything to do with his performances, as he still plays at a high level. Instead, the issue is in the length of the deal. The club believes a short agreement is more fitting due to his age, while the player insists on a multi-year contract.
When approached by The Athletic, Gundogan’s camp said that he still remains open to all options. He reportedly wants to focus on a successful finish of the season with City and will take care of his future in the summer.
Ilkay Gundogan was head coach Pep Guardiola’s first signing when he arrived at City in 2016. Since then, Gundogan has been a key part of his team, helping City to win four Premier League titles. He played 290 games in all competitions and has 53 goals to his name.
