Manchester City could block midfielder’s summer transfer amid growing interest | OneFootball

Ilkay Gundogan’s time at the Etihad Stadium may not be coming to an end in the immediate future, as Manchester City reserve the option to retain the player.

When Gundogan was brought back to the club at the end of last summer’s transfer window, it was hoped that the Germany international would be the same player he was before he left for Barcelona only the year prior.

This would all but be the case over the course of the most recent campaign, as the German midfielder would only combine for 10 goals plus assists, although did record an impressive 50 appearances across competitions.

Some struggles could have to do with the immense depth that Manchester City had in midfield last season, including the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, James McAtee, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez, and – for five matches – the defending Ballon D’or winner, Rodri.

Given that Ilkay Gundogan’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2025/26 campaign, there are several teams closely monitoring his situation at the Etihad Stadium in the hope of picking up the veteran.

The most recent club to be intensely linked with a transfer interest in Gundogan is Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray, having emerged as a potential suitor both in national media and reports closer to home, including Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke.

Some of this could have to do with the experience that Ilkay Gundogan certainly brings to the table, having been a crucial part of Manchester City’s various domestic triumphs, as well as the Treble-winning season of 2022/23.

All of this could be seen as a crucial tool for manager Pep Guardiola in the upcoming campaign, as the report indicates that the current plan is to retain the veteran midfielder for the final year of his contract and provide experience in the group.

This could most notably help paint the picture of the German midfielder being a big part in helping new arrivals, such as Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, settle into Pep Guardiola’s system both over the summer and throughout the season.

For now, it appears that Ilkay Gundogan is still very much a part of the Catalan manager’s plans, having partaken in Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over Moroccan side Wydad AC in the FIFA Club World Cup.