Ilkay Gundogan has ruled out a return to Borussia Dortmund in a boost to Arsenal’s hopes of luring the Premier League winner away from rivals Manchester City.
If Mikel Arteta had a player of Ilkay Gundogan’s experience, mentality and sheer quality at his disposal in the final few weeks of last term, would Arsenal have ended it celebrating their first top-flight title in over 20 years?
Gundogan, for the second year in a row, went full ‘Digivolve’ mode in the spring; the Turkey international redefining the word ‘clutch’ while firing Man City to the treble.
Pep Guardiola might have been wide of the mark when he sobbed that Manchester City simply could not ‘replace’ Sergio Aguero – Erling Haaland made sure of that – but finding a man capable of emulating Gundogan’s staggering penchant for hitting game-winning six-pointers with a second left on the clock certainly feels said than done.
Ilkay Gundogan could leave Man City for Arsenal
The long-serving midfielder will officially become a free-agent in less than a fortnight’s time.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Arsenal hold a ‘strong interest’ in adding Gundogan to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus; Guardiola’s former assistant Mikel Arteta ‘driving’ the club’s pursuit of another City slicker.
Gundogan is yet to confirm exactly where his future lies. But he does admit that it won’t be at Borussia Dortmund.
“There was contact (with BVB). I can tell you that much,” Gundogan said this week, via BuliNews. “Not with me personally, but between (Dortmund director) Sebastian Kehl and my agent.”
Gundogan spent five years at Dortmund between 2011 and 2016, winning a league and cup double under Jurgen Klopp before joining Man City in a deal worth £21 million.
“Of course, I have a strong connection with BVB. The fact that there were rumours did not surprise me,” Gundogan adds. “But to be honest, the probability was not that high. A return to the Bundesliga is not a big issue for me.”
Barcelona remain interested. There are also offers from Saudi Arabia.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are also pursuing Romeo Lavia, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber and Declan Rice as Arteta looks to overhaul his old mentor at the top of the Premier League tree.
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