Barcelona “fear” that Manchester City will now up their efforts to keep captain Ilkay Gundogan, according to journalist Achraf Ben Ayad.
The German international’s contract at the Etihad expires in just over two weeks’ time and there was an expectation that he would make the switch to Barca. However, Ben Ayad believes things could change following City’s Champions League triumph:
🚨🚨🚨 هناك تخوف داخل برشلونة من تحسين السيتي لعرضه امام غوندوغان خصوصا بعد التتويج بالثلاثية ✅ pic.twitter.com/JL0w5ivrDD
— Achraf Ben Ayad (@Benayadachraf) June 13, 2023
Fans on Twitter are now increasingly hopeful that Gundogan will remain with the Citizens beyond the summer:
Just give him 2 years
— Cyrus 🙇🏻♂️ (@SilkyCyrus_74) June 13, 2023
Sign the thing Gundo
— Sushan👾 (@BallingErling) June 13, 2023
Good. Because why would he join Barca while they have so many midfielders, he’s fine here.
— lucosaurrr 🇳🇱 (@xlucosaurrr) June 13, 2023
Give him what he wants. Peps first signing needs to stay!
— TGearhardt (@TGearhardt) June 13, 2023
Barca are shaking
— Foden47 (@FodenxSZN) June 13, 2023
Let’s see that 2 years + 1 option now.
— Hiyayakko (@YakumiSarai) June 13, 2023
Please 🙏🏽
— 🥤¹⁷ (@debruynaaa) June 13, 2023
Why is Gundogan looking to leave City?
The main problem has been City’s reluctance to offer the midfielder more than a twelve-month extension. It is thought that Barcelona are prepared to hand him a two-year deal, with an option for a further year.
If City are to persuade Gundogan into staying, you would have to think that will need to improve their original proposal.
Are there other clubs interested in Gundogan?
Respected journalist David Ornstein confirmed last month that the 32-year-old is a target for Arsenal, but the Gunners do seem to be behind Barcelona in the pecking order.
There have also been claims that teams in Saudi Arabia will offer Gundogan a lucrative contract but, from the sound of things, the choice is very much between staying at City or leaving for Spain.
If Ben Ayad’s reporting is to be believed, it appears the odds are moving back in the treble winners’ favour, but we shall see how things develop over the coming days.
