In a recent tweet, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano mentioned that Manchester City are close to re-signing Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan this summer. It has been claimed that Pep Guardiola’s side are set to bring the German talent back to the Etihad Stadium on a free transfer this month.
Gundogan’s Decent Form In Spanish Football
Gundogan had an impressive campaign at the Nou Camp as he put in a string of influential displays at the heart of Barca’s midfield. The Germany international was involved in 51 matches for the Catalan club last season, finding the back of the net five times and grabbing 14 assists across multiple competitions.
The 33-year-old proved his worth as a good performer at the centre of the park by averaging 1.2 shots, 2.7 key passes and 0.9 dribbles per game in La Liga. He was even excellent when distributing the ball after making 90.5% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top flight (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Catalan club will expire in the summer of 2026. Thus, it won’t be easy for Man City to land him on the cheap in this summer transfer period.
Is Gundogan A Good Signing For Manchester City
Gundogan can shoot the ball with power from long range and has got the vision to create some meaningful openings for his teammates in the final third. He can make a few driving runs with the ball as well and can put in a good shift defensively when he is playing with confidence on the field.
The German sensation is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also serve as a holding midfielder or play in the number ten position if told to do so. He already knows the Mancunian club well from his previous spell with them and won’t take much time to settle into life at the Etihad Stadium.
Gundogan would add more quality to Pep Guardiola‘s midfield department. He is still good enough to help Man City compete for a lot of major trophies over the next couple of years.
At 33, Gundogan might still have a few good seasons left in him to play at his best. Hence, he would be a good signing for the Mancunian giants in the short term.
