Arsenal face main Ilkay Gundogan battle as Pep Guardiola reveals Man City stance
Pep Guardiola has spoken out on his hopes of maintaining the City captain, who lifted every of the membership’s trophies as they claimed an historic treble within the 2022-23 season.
Arsenal are interested by touchdown the German on a free switch along with his contract expiring on the finish of the month, as a part of a midfield revamp that will even see Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia focused.
Standard Sport reported on Monday that Thomas Partey could leave along with Granit Xhaka as a part of Mikel Arteta’s summer time plan.
But any deal for Gundogan will imply Arsenal should persuade him to snub the provide of a renewal with City or a swap to Spanish champions Barcelona.
“I’m aware of Barcelona’s interest in signing Gundogan but we’re also very interested in keeping him at the club,” Guardiola instructed reporters in Spain.
“I hope he stays with us.
“If Barcelona succeed in signing him, they will get a great, fantastic player.”
Guardiola was pictured on Sunday night time assembly with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who he labored with throughout his time on the Camp Nou.
The Spaniard was additionally quizzed over a possible transfer for Kylian Mbappe forward of his Paris Saint-Germain contract expiring subsequent yr. However, he asserted that such a deal was not on City’s agenda as he said: “You know where he wants to go.”