Barcelona set to sign "free agent" Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City

Barcelona is very interested in signing Manchester City's free agent Ilkay Gundogan as they investigate Bosman deals for head coach Xavi.

N'Golo Kante, a Chelsea midfielder, and other players whose contracts are up have been looked at by the Catalan team. However, the fact that the France international is getting closer to signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge has made it possible to make an acquisition of Gundogan.

The 32-year-old has less than six months left on his City contract, so he can discuss a pre-contract deal for 2023/23 with other teams. Barcelona's chances of signing him after seven years depend on whether he extends his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola was City's first signing when the German international left Borussia Dortmund in 2016. Since then, he has been a key player in four Premier League championships, establishing himself in the team's leadership group and taking over as captain after Fernandinho left in the summer of 2017.

Given Guardiola's philosophy, which is rooted in the club he played for and coached, it is anticipated that he will fit Barcelona's style of play, even though his playing career was in Germany and England.

Gundogan's absence from Guardiola's team would be a void given his position as captain. When they won the title in 2020/21, he was probably their most important player on the field. Since then, he has always been a reliable member of Guardiola's team.

City may still offer Gundogan a new contract, but they have shown that they at least take into account transfers and whether or not they add value when a world-class player is up for sale. Nearly 300 games have been played by Gundogan for the club. They did this with Harry Kane when he wanted to leave Tottenham two summers ago. However, there was no agreement.

City never gets involved in bidding wars and always negotiates their own terms, but if Borussia Dortmund offers them Jude Bellingham, they might once more. Declan Rice of West Ham could be another player on the market. In a deal worth around £70 million, Arsenal has made it clear that they want the England midfielder.

In the first half of his City debut season, Leeds player Kalvin Phillips, whom Guardiola acquired for £45 million last summer, has been plagued by injuries. He will likely compete for a spot in the first team in the future, with Rodri being the preferred defensive midfielder.