Manchester City player considers contract extension amidst interest from rival club
The player has not completely rejected the idea of signing a new contract with Manchester City, and has had some discussions with a different team.
Ilkay Gündoğan’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire in June, and it is uncertain whether he will remain at the club beyond this season. Barcelona is being considered as the leading candidate to sign the midfielder on a free transfer in the summer.
Sport magazine, in their Tuesday edition, examines Barcelona’s desire to strengthen their midfield and their stance on signing Gündoğan from Manchester City.
Barcelona is reportedly in search of a replacement for Sergio Busquets, but they have not yet identified a suitable option. Xavi Hernández and the club’s leadership have come to the realization that their targets are unattainable and have consequently decided to offer Busquets a contract extension.
According to reports, Mateu Alemany, the sporting director of Barcelona, has a preference for signing players on a free transfer and is willing to offer them high wages, even if it has an impact on the club’s salary cap. Ilkay Gündoğan is one of the players being considered by Barcelona, as he is currently open to listening to offers while also not completely ruling out the possibility of extending his contract with Manchester City.
Barcelona reportedly holds no doubts about Gündoğan’s skill set, profile, and how well he could fit into their system.
Reports suggest that Barcelona has had some discussions with Ilkay Gündoğan, but they are not willing to meet the salary demands made by the midfielder. It remains to be seen whether Gündoğan will choose to renew his contract with Manchester City or become a free agent and move to another club in the summer.
Meanwhile, Barcelona will be hoping to secure an extension with Sergio Busquets, which will allow them to target a top-level midfielder in 2024 instead.
