In a recent report, Mundo Deportivo revealed that Barcelona are eyeing a January move for Manchester City playmaker Ilkay Gundogan. It has been claimed that the Catalan outfit are hoping to strengthen their midfield by recruiting the German talent this winter.
Gundogan’s Impressive Season At Man City So Far
Gundogan is having another decent campaign at the Etihad Stadium as he has managed to produce some influential displays at the centre of Pep Guardiola’s midfield. The 32-year-old has scored two times and grabbed two assists in 20 matches for Man City this season across all competitions.
The German sensation deserves a lot of credit for averaging 1.8 shots and 1.9 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He has even been accurate with his ball distribution after completing 89.7% of his attempted passes in the English top tier (stats via whoscored).
However, Gundogan is currently on an expiring contract at Man City which could open the door for Barcelona to snap him up this winter.
Is Ilkay Gundogan The Right Fit For Barcelona Head Coach Xavi?
Gundogan can do a little bit of everything at the centre of the park. He is a good tackler of the ball and can make some timely interceptions when he is playing well for his team. Gundogan is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also play as an attacking midfielder or as a holding midfielder if his manager asks him to do so.
The German midfield ace has developed a knack for scoring some important goals for his side and can even set up some promising chances for his teammates on the attacking end of the field.
At 32, Gundogan might still have a few good years left in him to play at his best. Hence, he will be a good, short-term signing for Barcelona to consider during the January transfer window. He has got a wealth of experience at the highest level which makes him a good fit for Barca at the moment.
Furthermore, Gundogan has got the winning mindset to help the Catalan club challenge for some top honours in the coming seasons. We can expect the German international to inject more goals and creativity into Xavi’s midfield department at the Nou Camp.
All in all, it makes a lot of sense for the Catalan giants to sign Gundogan at a cut-price fee this January when he will have just six months to run in his Man City contract.
