Ilkay Gundogan’s name has been added to Manchester City’s list of potential departures this summer with the German granted permission to seek an exit from the club. His current City deal expires next summer.
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been granted permission by his club to seek a move elsewhere this summer, says 90min. The German midfielder, who signed for the Citizens from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, has had his share of minutes slashed down after the arrival of Jack Grealish, and could leave the club, a year before his contract is up, in the coming months.
Gundogan is among a group of Manchester City players whose contract is up in 2023, along with Riyad Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, and Raheem Sterling, with the club yet to initiate talks over extending his stay. As per the report, City are unlikely to offer the midfielder an extension too, making it all the more likely that he decides to leave the club during the upcoming summer transfer window in search of a new opportunity. Despite their stance, the Premier League champions do not consider selling the German a necessity.
Fabrizio Romano confirms the same, claiming that the player and the club’s representatives are in discussion regarding his immediate future – with a move away from the Etihad the likelier option at this stage.
Romano further states that the 31-year-old would not be short of options should he leave with Barcelona and Arsenal, along with a few Bundesliga outfits, interested in signing him. Arsenal, to that end, have also been linked with moves for Gundogan’s City teammates, Jesus and Sterling.
Meanwhile, should he depart Manchester City this summer, it is likely that Gundogan will do so as the most decorated German player in the history of the Premier League. The midfielder is on track for his fourth league title in five years; he will be crowned the champion of England again if Liverpool fail to beat Southampton on Tuesday night or if City beat Aston Villa on the final matchday of the season, five days later.
