Ilkay Gundogan is all set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season when his contract expires, with Barcelona keen on signing him.
According to Spanish publication MARCA, Manchester United have no plans to renew the contract of Ilkay Gundogan in the coming months. And the player is expected to head to Barcelona, who are keen on securing his services.
Gündogan has been a key player for Manchester City since joining the club, helping them win five league titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder has five goals and five assists to his name across all competitions this term, and his impending departure will certainly weaken Manchester City.
However, the Premier League champions have the finances to bring in a quality replacement. And they have been linked with players like Jude Bellingham and Mateo Kovacic in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, Gündogan has proven his quality in the Premier League over the years, and he will leave Manchester City having scored 54 goals in 295 appearances for them across seven seasons. The German international will be hoping to win another league title by the end of this season.
The opportunity to showcase his qualities in the Spanish league and explore a different culture has been an attractive option for Gündogan. And the move to Barcelona would certainly make sense for him at this stage of his career.
The German international is in his thirties. But he is still good enough to play for the best clubs in the world, and he could be a useful option for Xavi Hernandez. Barcelona will need to add more quality and depth in the middle of the park, especially if they want to do well in the Champions League next season.
The Barcelona midfield suffered in the European competitions this year. So the Blaugrana need another controller in the middle of the park with experience and quality. Gundogan could form an impressive partnership with Frenkie de Jong in the middle of the park next season.
Signing a player of his quality on a free transfer could prove to be a bargain for Barcelona. The Catalan club are going through financial difficulties, and they could certainly use acquisitions like these. It would help save them millions in the transfer market.
