Ilkay Gundogan is one of the hottest prospects in the transfer market as we approach the final phase of the campaign.
With the midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of the season, he has been targeted by Barcelona, among other clubs. Even Chelsea have recently joined the race to sign the German international.
Although recent reports have claimed Barcelona are in advanced talks with Gundogan over a free transfer this summer, the player, in a recent media interaction, has denied signing any contract.
“Barcelona deal done? My future is not yet decided — obviously, there are talks in the background. But I won’t go into details now. I have not signed anything yet,” Gundogan said (h/t Fabrizio Romano).
The midfielder expressed his happiness at Manchester City, where he is currently the team captain. “I’m happy to be here at Man City and to be the captain,” he added.
With almost 300 competitive appearances for Manchester City, Gundogan’s success at Etihad has been well-documented. Even Pep Guardiola is keen on keeping the German around beyond the summer, but he will not stand in the way of the player if he wants to leave the club.
Gundogan’s comments should not be too much of a deterrent for Barcelona. In fact, his address only acknowledges the links to Barça and the possibility of a summer switch to Etihad.
It is now up to the Catalan club to make economic reservations for Gundogan and make an approach to the former Borussia Dortmund star, who could prove to be an excellent addition to the team ahead of the coming summer.
From a sporting perspective, Gundogan could be an excellent partner for Pedri and Frenkie de Jong in the interior midfield position. Alternatively, he could serve as the direct replacement for Sergio Busquets, if the veteran opts to leave Camp Nou at the end of the season.
