Talks planned with major first-team duo over Etihad Stadium future as Ilkay Gundogan moves towards Man City return

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City Xtra

·19. August 2024

Talks planned with major first-team duo over Etihad Stadium future as Ilkay Gundogan moves towards Man City return

A sensational last 72 hours has seen Manchester City linked with an emotional return for one former club captain during the final days of the summer market.

That concerns Ilkay Gundogan, who is understood to have now informed FC Barcelona of his willingness to leave the football club, and Manchester City having registered their interest in bringing the German back into Pep Guardiola’s squad. Full details of this can be found below!

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On the departures front, there have been updates concerning two of Manchester City’s full-backs and specifically on the right, with Rico Lewis remaining the only option with a stable future this summer it seems.

Contractually, Manchester City remain at work, and are continuing to target two major renewals within Pep Guardiola’s squad both of whom command major wages both at the Etihad Stadium and within the top ranks of the Premier League’s player roster.

Here is everything you need to know in order to remain up to date with the latest Manchester City transfer news and rumours from across the globe reported across the last three days!

Arrivals

Manchester City ARE interested in a move for Ilkay Gundogan. (Pol Ballus, The Athletic)

Ilkay Gündogan is open to the idea of returning to Manchester City, having agreed to leave FC Barcelona this summer. (Adrià Albets, Santi Ovalle – Cadena SER)

Manchester City have now made contact with Ilkay Gündogan’s camp over a potential return to the club. (Fabrizio Romano)

Fabrizio Romano: “I’m hearing Pep Guardiola would be really open to welcoming [Ilkay] Gundogan back to Manchester City. So Pep is seriously considering this possibility. Now it’s time to talk to Gundogan, his agents more than about money; to understand what Gundogan wants to do…”

Ilkay Gundogan is exploring his options amid the possibility of leaving Barcelona, with interest from clubs in the Premier League, Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. (David Ornstein, The Athletic)

Barcelona have now clearly informed Ilkay Gundogan that he should leave this summer, despite the player himself making it clear throughout that he wanted to stay. Gundogan’s agent is now examining various options. (Kerry Hau, Sky Germany)

Ilkay Gundogan is ‘happy’ for a return to Manchester City, and so is Pep Guardiola. (Sam Lee, The Athletic)

Both Barcelona and Ilkay Gundogan prefer the option of a move to Manchester City this summer; City know him, the midfielder wants to continue with a winning project, and Barca are interested in Joao Cancelo. (Jose Alvarez, El Chiringuito)

Manchester City’s doors are open for Ilkay Gundogan to return, for free. Manager Pep Guardiola “will not let him down”, but City will not pay a transfer fee. (Lu Martin, Relevo)

Peterborough United and Manchester City have terminated the season-long loan of Mahamadou Susoho following a serious thigh injury ruling him out of action for at least four months. (Official)

Peterborough United manager, Darren Ferguson: “We’ve sent him (Mahamadou Susoho) back to Manchester City and will keep in touch with him. The aim will be to get him back in January on loan for the rest of the season. I felt for him; his first loan, a young kid, a real blow to us…” (Peterborough Telegraph)

Departures

Joao Cancelo and Kyle Walker are on Al Hilal’s three-man shortlist to replace Saud Abdulhamid. Jeremie Frimpong is their ideal candidate, while it is unlikely Manchester City would entertain offers for Walker this late in the window. Cancelo is free to leave. (Jack Gaughan, MailSport)

Kayky is expected to join Sparta Rotterdam on a season-long loan from Manchester City with no option to buy. (Rômulo Giacomin)

Contract Renewals

Manchester City are ready to offer Rodri a double-your-money pay rise to keep him at the Etihad Stadium, hiking his wages to around a basic £375,000 a week. Talks are also planned to hand Erling Haaland a pay rise, but City have made Rodri their top priority. (Simon Mullock, Mirror)