Arsenal hoping to hijack Barcelona’s pursuit of Manchester City legend – report | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan is one of the few players in world football who has aged like fine wine. His performances have not seen a drop in level despite the progression in age and he is in fact delivering some of his career-best performances at 32 years of age.

With his contract at Manchester City coming to an end in June, the veteran appears to be one of the most tempting options on the summer transfer market.

With factors like the economics and his comfort in a possession-based system taken into account, Barcelona have unsurprisingly been on his hunt for a long time.

Gundogan’s arrival in Catalonia appeared to be unofficially closed earlier this month. Yet, such has been the magnitude of his performances that Manchester City have returned with a renewal offer to keep their captain at the Etihad.

According to reports from SPORT, that is not the only hurdle in the German’s move to Spain. Arsenal refuse to give up in the race for the midfielder and Mikel Arteta is now said to be prepared to talk to the player and transmit the Gunners’ proposal.

The London-based club are willing to offer Gundogan a long-term deal with a good financial package. However, if the player intends to continue in England, it is difficult to see why he would not stay at the club where he is likely to lift the UEFA Champions League.

Barcelona have been in contact with the German’s entourage for a long time now and the deal is now in its closing stages. Gundogan not only believes in Xavi’s project but wishes to reside in Spain, a factor that placed the Catalans in the driver’s seat.

The biggest competition for the club is therefore Manchester City and presumably not Arsenal. The Blues are now willing to offer him a two or three-year extension as opposed to the initial one-year renewal on the table. It remains to be seen if the English side’s late swoop can trigger a change of heart in Gundogan.