Arsenal fancy signing Ilkay Gundogan – but their task may have just become even harder after he fired Manchester City to the Premier League title.
Arsenal need new signings this summer after missing out on the top four and subsequent Champions League qualification.
Mikel Arteta is already being linked with not one but two Manchester City players.
Gabriel Jesus is the first with Arsenal desperately needing to add at least one quality striker this summer.
The other is Gundogan with another midfielder also on Arteta’s wish list with the idea of finding a top partner for Thomas Partey.
Arsenal fancy signing Ilkay Gundogan
Fabrizio Romano reported last week that Arsenal are interested in signing Gundogan this summer.
City seem bemused by reports that Gundogan will be allowed to leave this summer though Arsenal will be hoping he’s available.
Arteta worked with Gundogan during his time on the Manchester City coaching staff and a reunion could appeal this summer.
Yet if Arsenal were hoping that City would let Gundogan go, Sunday’s events make a deal even trickier.
City were losing 2-0 at home to Aston Villa on the final day of the season and were in real danger of squandering the Premier League title.
Pep Guardiola threw on Gundogan from the bench, utilising him as something of a second striker as the emphasis was on him to just break into the box late.
Gundogan headed home Raheem Sterling’s cross at the back stick to make it 2-1 before Rodri quickly levelled it up at 2-2.
Gundogan then became the hero by tapping him – again at the back post – from Kevin De Bruyne’s pass to send the Etihad Stadium absolutely wild.
The German was the unlikely saviour for City as he showed his ability to get into the box and score just when City needed it.
Arsenal may well fancy adding those qualities to their squad this summer but would City really let him go now?
Gundogan isn’t as highly-touted as players like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva but has proven that he can be the man for big moments.
That’s a quality that Pep Guardiola may want to keep around, and a move to Arsenal now seems very unlikely this summer.
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