As the drawn-out saga nears its conclusion, Ilkay Gundogan is finally within Barcelona’s grasp. The captain of Manchester City has been coveted by the Catalans for some time, and a decision regarding his future is rumoured to be announced very soon.
The German midfielder, whose deal with Manchester City is about to expire, is reportedly closer than ever to joining Barça on a free transfer and might even be easily registered, according to Mundo Deportivo.
Despite the fact that Barcelona still does not take Gündogan’s arrival for granted, negotiating sources are optimistic that he will soon become a new reinforcement for FC Barcelona. They even acknowledge the possibility that the deal will be finalised today.
Furthermore, the alleged requirement of Financial Fair Play would not present a problem because, after his signing is complete, the Blaugrana can afford to register him immediately in La Liga, allaying a significant worry the 32-year-old had.
Barcelona has been after Gundogan for quite some time; his market value is €20 million. Unsurprisingly, the player appreciated the attention given to him because he was eager to take on a new challenge.
Despite receiving significantly more lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia, the Premier League, and of course, City’s own insistence, Xavi’s conversations with the player have turned out to be crucial.
At 32 years old, Gundogan does not have a long career at the top level, but given the exceptional season he had at City, it is not surprising to see the team push for his extension. The chance to join the exciting Arsenal project also arose, but the German appears destined to sign with Barcelona.
Even though Javi Miguel has stated that Barcelona has refuted those claims, some reports in Spain indicate that Gundogan has already passed his physical.
However, as things stand, Gundogan’s signing appears to be nearing completion and may even happen today.
