In a recent report, The Daily Mail stated that Barcelona are optimistic about recruiting Manchester City ace Ilkay Gundogan. It has been claimed that the Catalan club are eyeing a move to acquire the services of the German sensation.
Gundogan’s Impressive Campaign In Manchester
Gundogan is experiencing an encouraging campaign at the Etihad Stadium as he has put in a series of impressive displays at the heart of Man City’s midfield. The 32-year-old has registered five goals and five assists in 40 appearances for the Mancunian side this season across all competitions.
The German international has been a consistent performer for the Mancunian club based on his average of 1.8 shots, 1.3 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He has even been excellent when distributing the ball from midfield after making 86.9% of his attempted passes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Etihad Stadium is set to run out in the summer. Therefore, it makes sense for Barcelona to offer him a chance to shine at the Nou Camp when he becomes a free agent later this year.
Is Gundogan A Decent Choice For Barcelona Boss Xavi?
Gundogan can do a little bit of everything in the middle of the park. He is a good tackler of the ball and can make some important defensive contributions for his side. Gundogan mainly functions as a box-to-box midfielder but can also play in the number ten position or as a holding midfielder if needed.
The German talent has developed a knack for scoring goals consistently from midfield and can even engineer a few meaningful chances for his teammates in the final third.
We can expect Gundogan to add more quality to Barcelona head coach Xavi’s squad and help the Catalan club challenge for even more major honours over the next few years.
At 32, Gundogan might still have a few good seasons left in him to play at his best. Therefore, he will be a good choice for Barca to consider in the short term as long as they can afford his wages.
