As Sergio Busquets’ departure from FC Barcelona has been confirmed, the club will be looking for a new midfielder to replace him in the squad. Ilkay Gundogan has been one of the shortlisted midfielders who has strongly been linked with the club, but his signing may not be as simple as previously thought.
According to SPORT, FC Barcelona are taking the signing of Gundogan for free this summer for granted, and the club is pretty confident of getting the player as soon as Manchester City end their campaign. The Catalan club can engage with the player’s entourage as soon as tonight if the Manchester-based club is eliminated from the Champions League.
However, Gundogan’s entourage is also listening to other proposals from sides that may be interested in his signing. The report claims that Arsenal is another team seriously considering the signing of Gundogan and has also entered the race for his signature.
The Gunners have been looking for technical midfielders to complement their midfield, and Gundogan fits their profile of the required player, especially after his brilliant performances this season. Arsenal have a strong chance of attracting the player as they have offered him a long-term contract.
This long-term contract was one of his main demands from Manchester City, and his likelihood of leaving the Manchester club increased only as the Citizens were offering only a one-year deal.
Still, FC Barcelona are in the best position to sign the midfielder, as they have been in contact with him for months and already have a verbal agreement with him. The report claims that Gundogan has also spoken with Xavi on several occasions and has also been given assurances about his significant role in the team.
