Atletico Madrid have reportedly made Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan their top transfer target.
According to Fichajes, Ilkay Gundogan’s contract situation with Manchester City has alerted Atletico Madrid, who are ready to move in for him in the summer. The German midfielder will have just a year left on his contract with the Premier League champions after the current season, and talks over a new deal haven’t gone smoothly so far.
The 31-year-old joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth €27 million in the summer of 2016. He has since developed into a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s setup. Gundogan has made a total of 242 appearances for the Cityzens, scoring 46 goals and assisting 32 times.
This season, however, the central midfielder has somewhat struggled for regular game time. He has made the starting lineup in just 15 league matches and four Champions League games. With diminishing playing time and his current contract situation, Gundogan is attracting interest from multiple clubs across Europe.
Barcelona have shown interest in the midfielder and are eager to make a summer move. But they will not be alone in their pursuit, with their La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid also identifying Gundogan as a potential summer signing.
After winning the 2020/21 La Liga, Atletico Madrid have had a sub-par 2021/22 season. They are currently fourth in the league, 15 points behind the league leaders, Real Madrid. As a result, the Rojiblancos board is looking to add reinforcements to get the squad to challenge for the league title again next season.
An impeccable passer of the ball, Gundogan is one of the best in the business when it comes to dictating play from the centre of the park. His ball control and reading of the game are second to none, while he is also known for his ability to make late runs into the box and score goals.
These qualities make him one of the best midfielders in Europe, and with just about 15 months remaining on his contract, it is natural that he is attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. But whether Gundogan extends his stay at the Etihad or decides to move on remains to be seen.