Arsenal have been linked with Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and all hopes of a transfer hinge on one key factor.
Gundogan is out of contract at the end of next month and there’s a major chance that the German international will leave as a free agent. Pep obviously doesn’t want him to leave and the club have already offered him a new contract.
However, as per Football Transfers, the terms of his new deal will decide which way his future lies.
Gundogan wants a long-term three-year deal at the club and if he is not offered this then the midfielder will not sign a new deal. He wants to secure the final phase of his playing career and if Man City are sceptical then he will not shy away from joining Arsenal.
He’d also been linked with Barcelona but those rumours have faded away and right now, Arsenal are the frontrunners in signing the 32-year-old.
Can Ilkay Gundogan help Arsenal get better?
Arsenal’s top priority target is West Ham’s Declan Rice but Mikel Arteta will welcome Gundogan with open arms.
If he doesn’t like the terms of his new contract then he will leave as a free agent and even at 32, the midfielder is an absolute asset.
He’s been with Manchester City since 2016 and in these seven years, he’s scored 58 goals and provided 40 assists in 301 games. He’s primarily a central midfielder but has played all over under Guardiola’s guidance.
Arsenal have lacked an experienced head in their squad this season and with Gundogan, they will not only get a player who can lead them from the front but he’ll also bring in European experience with him.
A player like him will be a long-term replacement for Granit Xhaka but if Arsenal manage to sign Declan Rice then Gundogan can very easily operate in a more advanced role.
The midfielder knows Mikel Arteta very well so working under him won’t be a problem and if he’s not signing a new contract then Arsenal will be his top priority.
