‘Made contact’ - Fabrizio Romano provides transfer latest on Manchester City’s pursuit of Ilkay Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan’s uncertain future at Barcelona may prove to be Manchester City’s silver bullet in the transfer market.

The German is reportedly free to leave the Catalan club after just one year, with City keen on bringing their former captain back to the club. Gundogan was Pep Guardiola’s first signing at the Etihad and departed at the end of the 2022/23 season, with his final act in sky blue coming in Istanbul as he captained City to Champions League success.

After news broke on Sunday night about Gundogan’s uncertain future, The Athletic claimed on Monday that City are interested in signing the 33-year-old, who has attracted interest from elsewhere in the Premier League, as well as Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Guardiola admitted last week that City could be on the lookout for a new midfielder in the final 11 days of the summer window. “We will see what happens in the market. We can continue in that way, or maybe we will add some players. I cannot say,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has said Guardiola would be open to his former skipper returning to the Etihad.

“Manchester City have made contact with Ilkay Gündogan’s camp over potential return for German midfielder,” the journalist wrote on X.

“City and Pep Guardiola open to consider Gündo’s comeback. Barça want Gündogan to leave… and he also received approaches from Qatar, Saudi and more clubs.”

News first broke of Gundogan’s possible transfer after he was omitted from the Barcelona squad that face Valencia on Sunday. Manager Hansi Flick said this was due to a concussion suffered earlier in the week and added he expected Gundogan to remain at the club.

However, widespread reports have claimed the Germany international is free to leave Barcelona and Relevo reported that he could even depart on a free transfer with the club’s ‘economic situation’ meaning they are looking to reduce their wage bill.

In seven years at City, Gundogan played 304 times for City and scored 60 goals. He is also just the second player in the history of English football to captain a side to the treble.