Ilkay Gundogan available Manchester City shirt numbers: Former jersey taken but international choice free

Ilkay Gundogan may have been away from Manchester City for just 14 months, but if he completes a shock return to the club, he’ll notice a few changes around the place.

Firstly, a mosaic adorning his face now proudly stands at the club’s training ground, while a wall in the players’ changing room boasts of City’s unprecedented achievement of winning four top-flight titles in a row. There are also a few new faces in Pep Guardiola’s squad, one of whom now wears the no.8 jersey that Gundogan held during his seven-year stint at the club.

Mateo Kovacic’s arrival at City last year coincided nicely with Gundogan’s exit, although Pep Guardiola was keen to point out the transfer was not a like-for-like replacement, and the Croat decided to take the now vacant jersey. That, at most, would be a minor annoyance rather than anything that could derail a possible return to the club for the former City skipper.

The Premier League champions are open to the prospect of Gundogan coming back to Manchester, where his final act for Guardiola’s side was to guide them to the treble. Reports in Spain have indicated that Barcelona are keen to move the German on, and his availability could be the perfect solution to City’s search for midfield options.

But with eight taken, Gundogan would have to select a new number, if the transfer is completed. There is an obvious alternative, though, with no.21 free for any summer arrival. That’s the shirt the midfielder wore for the majority of his time as a Germany player, with Gundogan announcing his retirement from international football on Monday.

The 33-year-old wore 22 at Barcelona, the shirt he first held at Nuremberg, and that also has no current occupant in the City dressing room. Kalvin Phillips’ exit on loan also means no.4 could be an option for any late signings in the window, as could no.7, if Joao Cancelo departs. Other available shirts include 4, 12, 13, 14, 19, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30.