KEY POINTS

  • Ikkay Gundogan has been at Man City since 2016
  • He has won 4 league titles with them
  • Gundogan has started 12 out of his 16 games this season

Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan could reportedly reject a contract extension and leave the Etihad club as a free agent.

Gundogan is into the final year of his contract with Manchester City, who are keen to retain the 32-year-old central midfielder. The Premier League champions have been in contact with Gundogan's camp to discuss an extension, but there is no agreement currently in place, Football Insider reported Monday.

If City do not reach an agreement before the end of this year, Gundogan will be allowed to agree to a pre-contract with a foreign club from Jan. 1.

There are many top European clubs that are interested in signing Gundogan, who was Manchester City's first signing under Pep Guardiola in 2016. Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich are preparing to make a move for City's No. 8, according to 90Min. A move to Bayern would see Gundogan return to Germany seven years after he departed Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth $23 million.

It is also understood that no decision about the star midfielder's future at City will be made until the end of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

In the ongoing season, Gundogan has made 16 appearances for Guardiola's side, starting 12 of those. He has scored twice and has made an assist as well.

A very popular figure at City, Gundogan was named the club captain in the summer after his teammates voted him to be Fernandinho's successor.

Gundogan, one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, netted 13 goals in 28 league appearances in the 2020-21 season and was one of the most influential figures in Manchester City's title win. Overall, Gundogan had finished the campaign with 17 goals and five assists in 46 appearances in all competitions for the Etihad side.

Ilkay Gundogan's (left) scoring streak has helped Manchester City open up a seven-point Premier League lead
Ilkay Gundogan moved from Dortmund to Manchester City in 2016 POOL / Rui Vieira

He followed that with another 10 goals last season, including the memorable double in the season finale against Aston Villa that secured the Premier League trophy for Manchester City.

Gundogan, who is into his seventh season at City, has so far netted 51 goals and provided 34 assists in 269 matches across all competitions. He has helped Guardiola and Co win many trophies over the years, including four league titles and four League Cup trophies. He was also a part of the team that ended as runners up in the 2020-21 Champions League.

Soccer