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Pre-contract deal, £12.3m wages – What’s the latest on Man City’s pursuit of 33 y/o? [Opinion]

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Ilkay Gundogan could be on his way out of Manchester City next summer and it appears the Sky Blues could have a like-for-like replacement lined up in Toni Kroos.

Pep Guardiola managed the 33-year-old at Bayern Munich and Defensa Central (h/t Sport) say he’d love to bring Kroos to the Etihad Stadium if he doesn’t renew his deal at Real Madrid beyond 2023.

Los Blancos are keen to keep the German international, however, so City’s pursuit might come with obstacles. Nevertheless, he can sign a pre-contract deal with suitors in January, so his future is up in the air until a new deal is confirmed.

Kroos has made 18 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring one goal with four assists. The 33-year-old started five of their six Champions League outings and 10 of their 14 league games, so he’s an important player to Carlo Ancelotti.

But with his contract having just months to run, reports from Spain suggest City want to capitalise on the situation. The Sky Blues are said to be weighing up a contract worth €14m-a-year (£12.3m-a-year) to lure Kroos to England, but it remains to be seen if that’s lodged, let alone accepted.

In other news, Ilkay Gundogan gives contract update amid exit talk in 2023

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He joined from Newcastle in 2000 and left to join FC Sochaux in 2003

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Sports journalist who is an avid football fan, enjoys debunking transfer rumours, loves to write pieces about players out in the cold and takes a large amount of pride getting a predicted XI 100% correct.