Man City Want To Keep Hold Of Barcelona Target Due To Guardiola’s Wishes
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered an update on the future of Ilkay Gundogan. The Manchester City midfielder has been a target for Barcelona for a while now, as part of the club’s plans to reinforce their options in the middle of the park.
As per the report, Barcelona’s pursuit of Gundogan is facing increased uncertainty, as there is a looming possibility of the player renewing his contract with Manchester City.
Gundogan’s current deal at Etihad expires at the end of the season. His status as a free agent is one of the reasons why he is such an appealing target for Barcelona.
However, the Catalans are yet to reach an agreement with Gundogan over a potential move to Camp Nou. To make things more complicated for the Blaugrana, Man City head coach Pep Guardiola has showcased an increased desire to keep hold of the player beyond summer.
Guardiola made his intentions clear, especially after the game against Leeds United. The report suggests Man City want to renew the contract of the German international due to Guardiola’s wishes.
Barcelona, though, have not given up just yet. Despite the impending departure of sporting director Mateu Alemany, the Spaniard has been given the responsibility of holding talks with Gundogan and reach a potential agreement over a move to Camp Nou.
The main sticking point for Barça is the player’s relatively high salary, breaking the current fabric of the club’s wage structure. Barcelona are hesitant about breaking that barrier, just to incorporate the services of the German.
In the meantime, Barcelona are actively searching for other options in the market, having recently been linked with a move for Sofyan Amrabat.
But signing the Moroccan international could be tricky as well, as his contract with Fiorentina does not expire until 2024. In fact, he could end up costing more than Gundogan, thus putting Barcelona in a precarious position.
