Pep Guardiola is reportedly ready to hand Ilkay Gundogan a new contract to stay at Manchester City amid growing interest in the German international from FC Barcelona.
According to Sport, the Catalan manager is eager to keep the 32-year-old midfielder at the Etihad Stadium beyond his current contract, which is due to expire at the end of this season. As per the report, Guardiola is keen to get Gundogan to sign a one-year extension.
The former Borussia Dortmund man was named City captain this season. Yet despite playing a massive role for the club in recent years and counting to perform at the highest level in the Premier League, the Manchester side are yet to commit Gundogan to a new contract.
As a result, Barcelona are now circling the German superstar, with Xavi Hernandez a big of Gundogan are plotting a move to sign the City maestro in January. Though as per Sport, the financial obstacles could make this deal quite the challenge for the La Liga giants.
Indeed, Barcelona endured a heavy summer of spending that saw Xavi completely change the playing squad into one of the most exciting in Europe, on paper. However, the Catalan manager is not done yet with his transformation, with a top central midfielder now in his sights in January.
And Gundogan is the man Xavi wants, though with Guardiola now going up against his former player over the 32-year-old, a transfer battle could soon ignite over the midfielder, who is seemingly keen to remain in Manchester despite links to Barcelona.
City must work quick to sign Gundogan to a new contract
Gundogan might be heading into the final peak years of his career, but there’s no denying that the midfielder has warranted a new contract at City. Now, it is up to the club to hand the German a new deal amid growing interest from Barcelona.
As we know, Gundogan seems open to signing a new contract with City as per the player himself, and the Manchester giants are only hurting themselves the longer they wait to sit down and hash out a new deal with the German maestro, who could soon be a Barcelona player if the Manchester side don’t act fast enough.
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