Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan looks set to join Barcelona
According to media reports, Ilkay Gundogan, the captain of Manchester City, is set to make a move to Barcelona.
Ilkay Gundogan.<p>
Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is poised to join Barcelona, according to media reports. </p>
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The Germany international, who is out of contract this summer, now seems unlikely to renew terms with the treble winners. </p>
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City had offered the 32-year-old a new one-year contract with the option of a further 12 months but Barca are understood to have presented a more tempting three-year, and more financially-rewarding, package. </p>
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City are comfortable with the situation and the player would leave with their blessing. </p>
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The development comes on the same day City are understood to have agreed a £30million deal with Chelsea to sign Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic. </p>
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The champions are set to pay an initial £25million for the 29-year-old with a further £5million to follow in potential add-ons. </p>
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Kovacic, who joined Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2018, is entering the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge. </p>
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City now expect to complete formalities with the player and an official announcement will follow in due course. </p>
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Kovacic's versatility and experience would go some way to compensating for the loss of Gundogan. </p>
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The influential former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in his seven years at City. </p>
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This year Gundogan lifted three trophies as City became only the second English side to win the treble. </p>
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The club had been keen to retain his services but, given his age, did not want to match Barcelona's offer and have taken a pragmatic decision. </p>
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Kovacic would arrive at City as a four-time Champions League winner having been a member of Chelsea's victorious side in 2021 and triumphed on three occasions with Madrid. He also had a spell with Inter Milan earlier in his career. </p>
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