In a recent segment with ¡Qué Golazo! on Youtube, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed that Barcelona are eyeing a move for Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan. It has been revealed that the Catalan giants are showing interest in recruiting the German international when his contract runs out next summer.
Gundogan’s Decent Start To This Campaign
Gundogan has made a decent start to this campaign as he has managed to produce a few impressive displays at the centre of Pep Guardiola’s midfield. The 31-year-old registered two goals and one assist in ten matches for the Mancunian outfit this season across all fronts.
The veteran midfield ace has given a good account of himself by averaging 1.0 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.4 shots and 2.3 key passes per game in Premier League football. He has even been accurate with his ball distribution after making 89.8% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored).
Gundogan’s current deal with the reigning Premier League champions will expire at the end of this campaign which could open the door for Barca to snap him up on a free transfer.
Should Barcelona Head Coach Xavi Get Gundogan On Board This Summer?
Gundogan can get stuck in with some solid tackles to make life difficult for the opposition in the middle of the park. He can make the odd interception for his team but is more renowned for his offensive skill set. Gundugan usually plays as a box-to-box midfielder but can also serve as a defensive midfielder or play in the number position if required.
The German sensation has got the vision to engineer some promising chances for his teammates on the attacking end of the field. He can even strike the ball with power and accuracy from long range and is a tidy passer of the ball as well.
At 31, Gundogan is about to enter the twilight years of his playing career. Still, he has shown no signs of decline and is currently playing some of the best football of his playing career at the Etihad Stadium.
His quality and experience make him a good fit for Barcelona boss Xavi to consider in this off-season. Therefore, the Catalan club should think about offering Gundogan a chance to seal a move to the Nou Camp when his contract runs next summer as he has what it takes to help them challenge for top honours once again over the next few years.
