Improving the overall level of the team at Barcelona remains a top-level priority for the Catalan club’s higher-ups and sporting staff. To reach a top-level holistically, FC Barcelona will accordingly need to make top-level signings.
At the moment, most clubs around Europe are doing their level best to ensure their key players remain with them and new arrivals are sorted as soon as possible depending on various factors such as sporting, financial, and even personal interests of the players.
Similar is the case of arguably one of the most pivotal operations for FC Barcelona; that of Ilkay Gundogan. The Manchester City midfielder has been a key figure for the English side throughout last season and his contributions have helped them achieve a very exclusive continental treble that very few teams around Europe can boast to possess themselves.
Consequently, Manchester City are attempting their personal best to ensure the German’s continuity with the recent treble winners amidst absolute interest from Barcelona hovering right over their heads trying to lure the 32-year-old away to Catalonia.
As a result, and as has been reported within the latest report from The Athletic, FC Barcelona have now improved their initial 3-year-offer to Ilkay Gundogan, along with the prospect of a direct personal encounter with Xavi Hernandez himself to convince the German midfielder.
The previous salary being offered to the German was reportedly estimated to be around €27 million across three years. Now, the Athletic reports that these figures have been further improved amidst competition from Manchester City, who are in pursuit of Gundogan’s renewal.
However, there does remain a hint of doubt in the English media’s reports over this reported improved offer, with the Athletic in particular questioning if this improved offer would still be significant enough to deter Gundogan from renewing with Manchester City, as the treble-winning side still maintains a stronghold in terms of the superior contract being offered to the German.
