Barcelona ‘optimistic’ about signing Manchester City star and more transfer rumours

Barcelona are ‘confident’ they will be able to bring in Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer this summer, according to reports.

The 32-year-old midfielder is yet to agree a new deal with Manchester City, and foreign clubs have been able to approach him since the start of January.

He has been a key part of Pep Guardiola’s side this season and played 40 games for the Cityzens, but that may change in the future as they pursue the likes of Jude Bellingham.

Pep Guardiola has previously hinted he would like Gundogan to remain at the Etihad, but he will not force the player to stay.

According to 90 Min, Barcelona are close to signing Gundogan. Although talks between the two parties have not yielded a formal agreement, Camp Nou remains the most likely destination for the former Borussia Dortmund star.

A seperate reports in the Times claims Barca have offered the German international a two-year contract, but he is mindful of the Catalan Giants recent financial issues.

They also claim there is interest in Gundogan from Italy, but add his agency insist he is currently ‘only focused on Man City.’

Another reports from Football Insider also claimed Barcelona are willing to offer the 32-year-old a pay rise on his current Man City deal by adding bonuses and incentives to his contract which will eventually see it go beyond the £140,000-per-week he currently earns at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City, for their part, have offered him a new deal. But the player is considering his other options. They will not force the issue as the player has provided extraordinary service to the club over the years.

If he is to leave Manchester, it will end an immensely successful seven-year spell under Guardiola. After joining from Borussia Dortmund as the manager’s first signing in 2016, Gundogan has scored 56 goals in 293 games for City and picked up four Premier League titles.

Elsewhere, the situation of Kyle Walker at Manchester City is being monitored by Aston Villa as the Birmingham club set about backing Unai Emery this summer. 

That is according to Football Insider, who reports that Emery is looking to strengthen his right-back position and has identified Walker as a star that could meet the demands he wants from the role.

The future of the 32-year-old at the Etihad is not certain as the right-back has not been playing regularly with Pep Guardiola not using a back four this campaign which has forced the England star to play as a right-wing back.

Walker is out of contract at Man City next summer, therefore, if the Manchester club are to sell the defender it would have to be this summer.