Ilkay Gundogan's Barcelona exit sheds further light on Frenkie de Jong failure
Barcelona are looking to offload Ilkay Gundogan in a move that would allow them to register new signing Dani Olmo and the midfielder could return to Manchester City
Ilkay Gundogan looks set to return to Manchester City, with Barcelona desperate to offload the midfielder due to their ongoing financial problems.
Gundogan joined Barcelona on a free transfer last summer after his contract with City expired, having captained them to a historic treble victory. However, the 33-year-old is keen on a return to the Etihad after Barcelona informed him they needed to sell.
Gundogan is understood to be earning just over £300,000-a-week at Barcelona and they want to get him off their wage bill so they can register Dani Olmo with LaLiga, having forked out £50million to sign the Spain international from RB Leipzig.
City are in the market for a new midfielder, with Pep Guardiola wanting to take some of the burden off Rodri and Gundogan fits the bill perfectly. According to Spanish outlet Relevo, Barcelona have put Gundogan in a similar position to Frenkie de Jong.
READ MORE: Sky Sports fans can save £216 on their bill, here's three other reasons you'll want to pick itREAD MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd reopen Ugarte talks, Chelsea's eight player firesale, Arsenal latestBack in 2022, Barcelona offered De Jong to several clubs in an attempt to raise money and the Dutchman came close to reuniting with former manager Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. However, De Jong did not want to leave and ultimately remained at Barcelona.
"Manchester United already spoke with Barcelona [last summer] despite the fact that I wanted to stay here," he explained to NOS last year. "The club was in a difficult situation. They were able to sell me for a big fee, and they wanted to do this, but I did not want to leave so I stayed."
The report states that Barcelona have used the same tactic with Gundogan this summer but, unlike De Jong, the German has 'given in to pressure' from the club and decided to leave. It is claimed he was initially reluctant.
However, he is said to be 'willing to help the club' as they try to sort out their financial problems, with a source quoted as saying: "He is a gentleman and he will try to help".
Guardiola did not want Gundogan to leave City in the first place, admitting last summer: "I'm hearing Barcelona is interested in him, but I'm also hearing Manchester City is very interested too!
"I wish he can stay with us, but if at the end Gundogan decides to join Barcelona I can only say they will do an extraordinary signing. I know Xavi has spoken a lot of times with Gundogan. He has not told me whether he prefers to stay or leave."
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