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Why Burley likes Gündogan back with Man City (1:12)
Craig Burley outlines a way that Ilkay Gündogan could work as a squad player for Manchester City. (1:12)
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Rob Dawson, CorrespondentAug 20, 2024, 04:39 AM ET
Manchester City are among the clubs exploring the possibility of signing Ilkay Gündogan amid doubts over his Barcelona future, sources told ESPN.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, are also interested in the midfielder, who could leave Barcelona after just one season.
A source told ESPN that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wants Gündogan, 33, to stay, but club bosses are willing to let him leave if the right offer arrives.
Gündogan, who made 51 appearances last season for the Catalan club, has two years left on the contract he signed when he left City on a free transfer last summer.
City are considering signing another midfielder after allowing Kalvin Phillips to join Ipswich Town in a season-long loan deal.
The club are also looking at bringing in a forward following Julián Álvarez’s departure to Atlético Madrid and Oscar Bobb’s injury, which is set to sideline the Norway international for more than three months.
City were keen to keep Gündogan last summer only for the German, who announced his international retirement on Monday, to reject a number of contract offers.
He eventually agreed a move to Barcelona despite interest from Arsenal. Gündogan left City after making more than 300 appearances across seven years and winning the Premier League title five times.
A key player for Barcelona last season, Gündogan’s place in the team has come under pressure following the arrival of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig this summer.
Meanwhile, a source has told ESPN that City are unlikely to entertain offers for captain Kyle Walker despite interest from Al Hilal.
Walker almost left the Etihad to join Bayern Munich a year ago but instead signed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2026.
A source has told ESPN that Al Hilal want to sign a full-back if they can offload former Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi to open up a place for another foreign player in their squad.
However, City do not want to lose Walker just 10 days before the transfer deadline, and any approach is set to be rejected.
