‘Practically ruled out’ – Player expected to leave Manchester City as talks hit barrier

Two days ago, Sport explained İlkay Gündoğan isn’t ruling out signing a new contract at Manchester City.

The Germany international’s current deal expires in June and his situation has drawn attention from Barcelona.

An update from Sport states the 32-year-old is ‘close to breaking off’ renewal negotiations with Manchester City. He wants a guaranteed two-year deal and an important salary’, which the Citizens haven’t accepted for now.

Therefore, the midfielder’s stay at the club beyond this season would be ‘practically ruled out’ and it opens the door for the Catalan club to sign him for free in the summer.

Although Arsenal are interested, the player would prioritise a move to Spain, where Barca are in the picture. The negotiations are complicated because the Blaugrana don’t want to meet his salary demands.

Barca have informed Gündoğan’s entourage they are willing to sign him, as long as he agrees to lower his salary demands. If not, his arrival would be impossible.

With Manchester City said to be out of the equation, he may be forced to lower his demands to join Xavi Hernández’s side. At the moment, the operation is paralysed because Barca want to know whether Sergio Busquets will continue after this season.

If Busquets signs a new deal, Barca’s offer for Gündoğan would be lower, since his signing wouldn’t be a priority.

To sum it up, the midfielder’s renewal at Manchester City is ‘practically impossible’ and it brings him a little closer to Barcelona. They are interested in signing him, as long as he lowers his salary demands.