Pep Guardiola determined to keep Ilkay Gundogan at Man City | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has denied claims that Ilkay Gundogan has asked to leave Manchester City, insisting he wants the midfielder around for the foreseeable future.

90min has confirmed reports that City have given Gundogan permission to look for a transfer this summer, but they are not prepared to actively try and offload the German as they are already set to lose Fernandinho.

Asked about Gundogan's future on Friday, Guardiola stressed that he still believes the 31-year-old is happy at the Etihad.

"If you ask me personally, I want him here next season," Guardiola said. "There is no-one thinking he cannot be here. If he wants to leave, as a club we don't know it.

"All the Twitter accounts saying he will leave, I don't know. Maybe you know more than me."

Gundogan is one of several City stars whose contracts are set to expire in 2023 and sources have confirmed to 90min that he could be shipped on this summer if the right buyer can be found. However, the Cityzens are not prepared to hit him with a low asking price to speed up a move.

Club officials are keen to avoid losing Gundogan but do not want an unhappy player in the dressing room and have given him permission to source his own suitors.

Decisions must also be made on Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez, who join Gundogan in approaching the end of their contracts.