Ilkay Gundogan has an uncertain future at Manchester City as his contract is up at the end of the season and no progress has been made on talks from 2021.
City are desperate to keep the 32-year-old as he’s been a regular under Pep Guardiola and captains the side when he starts, but non-English clubs can sign him on a per-contract deal from January 2023, so there is a risk of him leaving.
Gundogan isn’t panicked about the situation, however, and is going with the flow. He said in an interview with Kicker (h/t Get Football News Germany): “I’m pretty relaxed about it. The summer of 2023 still feels so far away. I’m not really worried about that at the moment.”
The German international has made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals with two assists. He’s been in the matchday of every game this season, being an unused substitute only twice, so Pep Guardiola won’t want to lose him.
Earlier in the campaign it looked like Gundogan may struggle for playing time as Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva were preferred in midfield.
But the 32-year-old has started 10 of City’s 14 league games, amassing 894 minutes of football from a possible 1260, so he clearly has a future at the Etihad. Pep will hope he isn’t lured away by Barcelona and Juventus.
In other news, Pep Guardiola accused of ‘poor selection’ after flaw in Manuel Akanji is exposed
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