According to reports in Spain, Ilkay Gündogan’s agent is close to saying “yes,” so Arsenal missed out on the opportunity to sign him. He appears to be choosing Barcelona as his next club.
What is the newest transfer news regarding Gundogan?
According to the report, Gündogan’s agent reportedly informed the Catalans that Gündogan will sign at Camp Nou, with the definitive agreement anticipated very soon, so Mikel Arteta will almost certainly miss out on a player who would significantly impact his young Gunners team.
As reported by Football London, Arsenal was reportedly close to finalising the transfer of the highly sought-after free agent, so this will come as a disappointing blow to the Spaniard who would have fancied his chances of signing him.
Per Mertesacker, the head of the Arsenal academy, said last week, while speaking as a pundit in Germany, that his club was in a “good position” to sign Gündogan from Man City.
For Arteta’s project, the German would have been a brilliant coup and a true statement signing. As a player who has won everything at the club level, including the treble with City last season, his experience would have been priceless.
Gündogan is a fantastic footballer who, despite being 32 years old, is at the top of his game and coming off his best ever season, so it should go without saying that Arteta will be disappointed to lose out on the midfielder. In the 2022–23 season, Gündogan led City with 11 goals and seven assists in addition to many other important contributions, especially during crucial moments.
One of his best performances was an impeccable brace against Everton in May, which helped City win another league championship. Roy Keane, a former midfielder for Manchester United, praised the midfielder for his performance and said: “What an outstanding player. What a player, he is brilliant beyond belief.
High praise from a former legend of a rival club only serves to emphasise how unique a talent Gündogan is. Given that Arteta is essentially Pep Guardiola’s student and that Gündogan spent so many years playing under Pep Guardiola, Gündogan would have fit Arsenal like a glove.
Who is associated with Arsenal?
Arteta will probably start looking at alternatives now that Gündogan is off the table. Declan Rice, who recently won the Conference League in Europe for West Ham United, is a player whose name is frequently mentioned in connection with the Arsenal.
According to reports, several Champions League teams, including Manchester City, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich, are keeping an eye on Rice.
With Granit Xhaka leaving and reports that Arsenal is willing to sell Thomas Partey as well, the midfield for Arsenal may need to undergo a significant rebuilding effort this summer, with Rice and Romeo Lavia possibly joining Rice.
