Premier League opinion: 3 clubs who should move for Ilkay Gundogan

According to a report from Italian publication Calciomercato, negotiations over a new contract with Manchester City have been blocked by Ilkay Gundogan. The German joined the defending champions in 2016 and has since made 104 appearances for the club.

Gundogan has been extremely crucial for Guardiola’s side this season, especially at times when Fernandinho was injured.

The German has scored 5 goals and has 7 assists to his name in all competitions so far this season and would be a huge loss for the champions if he were to leave in the summer.

However, Manchester City’s loss could prove to be someone else’s gain with respect to the signing of Ilkay Gundogan and here are three clubs who should make a move for him in the summer.

Manchester United

Gundogan was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford in the summer of 2015 but a move failed to materialise.

Sky Sports claimed that the Red Devils were close to agreeing a £21.5million fee with Borussia Dortmund but the German stayed with the Bundesliga outfit for another season before moving to United’s rivals the following season.

Gundogan would be an incredible fit in Manchester United’s midfield and would complement the likes of Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic very well. The German would be an ideal replacement for Ander Herrera, whose contract is up in the summer.

With the fierce rivalry between the two Manchester clubs, a deal is highly unlikely but if United manage to pull it off, it would massively increase their chances of becoming title contenders next season.

Arsenal

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal were linked with a winter move for Gundogan when he was still at Dortmund in 2015. Reports emerged that a £15.6million bid was tabled by the Gunners in the January transfer window but a deal did not go through.

Arsenal will be losing star midfielder Aaron Ramsey in the summer, who is off to Serie A champions Juventus on a free transfer.

Gundogan would be an incredible replacement for the Welsh wizard in Arsenal’s midfield. The Gunners should revive their previous interest in the German if he was to be available in the summer.

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Liverpool

According to a report from Calciomercato in January 2016, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp called Gundogan to join him at Liverpool. No deal went through in that window and the German signed for Manchester City just 6 months later.

However, Liverpool should swoop in for the 28-year-old in the summer to solve the issues they’ve had in attacking midfield.

Gundogan knows what is expected of him under Jurgen Klopp, having previously played under him in Dortmund, and would be a fine fit at Anfield. Klopp should make that call again to his former midfielder to lure him away from Manchester City.