Barcelona are among the clubs interested in the services of Ilkay Gundogan, whose contract at Etihad is set to expire at the end of the season.
Given the player’s pedigree at the highest level, coupled with his abilities, he is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after prospects ahead of the coming summer transfer window.
Multiple reports have hailed Barcelona as the frontrunner in the race to sign Gundogan, whose status as a free agent could make him an ideal option for the Catalans.
However, Barça may face fresh competition from Chelsea in the pursuit of Gundogan, reports Diario SPORT. It appears the Premier League giants have set their sights on the Manchester City midfielder, as part of their plan to redesign the midfield unit.
Chelsea are well aware of Gundogan’s accomplishments in the Premier League and believe he could be an ideal addition to the midfield unit, partnering with Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park.
Barcelona, for their part, are confident of signing the German international, who does favour a move to Catalonia. That is why the player is willing to settle for a lower economic offer. However, with Chelsea joining the fray, the deal could be complicated.
The Blues are in a position to offer Gundogan a fortune in terms of salary. So a lot will depend on whether or not Barcelona can overcome their FFP issues and put forth a reasonable offer to Gundogan. It must also be noted that the player may look for sporting prospects as well.
So it will be imperative for Barcelona to not only propose a reasonable contract offer but also sign good players in the market if they are to attract Gundogan. It will be interesting to see how this transfer saga develops over the coming weeks.
