Manchester City working on Ilkay Gundogan deal

Negotiations are ongoing at Manchester City to potentially bring midfielder Ilkay Gundogan back to the team. The 33-year-old, who captained Pep Guardiola’s team to an unprecedented Triple Crown, departed City for Barcelona in 2023.

The widely reported financial problems of the Catalan giants have kept them from acquiring new player Dani Olmo. The authorities assume that letting go of one of their better earners might hasten that process.

Early personnel concerns for City include the £81 million departure of Argentina forward Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid. Also, the potential four-month absence sustained by Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb due to an injury.

Gundogan wouldn’t need a transition time and may offer a temporary solution to these issues. Although Gundogan’s contract was not extended, City did not want him to leave last year, despite manager Pep Guardiola’s best efforts.

Gundogan played 304 games for City in 2016 after leaving Borussia Dortmund for a reported £20 million. He scored 60 goals in those games. In his seven years at Etihad Stadium, he won fourteen trophies: two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups, two Community Shields, one Champions League, and five Premier League crowns.