Gundogan has said yes to Barcelona, but club face registration challenges – report

In a huge development, journalist Toni Juanmarti is reporting that Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan has said ‘yes’ to joining Barcelona in the summer window on a free transfer.

Gundogan has been at the top of the wishlist for Barça heading into the summer, as Xavi prioritises the signing of a new interior midfielder to add more quality to the roster.

The 32-year-old’s experience, versatility, proven pedigree, and availability for free are some of the reasons why the Catalans have been pushing so hard to sign him up.

However, the Blaugrana faced competition from Manchester City, who had been trying hard to renew him, while Arsenal and clubs in Saudi Arabia were also gunning for his signing.

But, it seems like Barcelona have managed to beat their competitors and secure a verbal agreement with Gundogan over a transfer.

Now, it is up to the La Liga champions to resolve their Financial Fair Play situation and ensure that there are no problems with the registration of Gundogan.

It will be a challenge for the Catalan heavyweights as they need to finalise some exits to be able to register new players.

And, as per the report, if the registration is not done after a certain number of days, Gundogan wants the freedom to be able to choose a different direction, which is understandable considering that he would be left in limbo if not registered at Barça.

If signed, Gundogan can be a top signing for Barcelona as he has shown, despite his age, that he can continue to make a difference at the highest level.

But, with registration posing an issue, the ball is in the Blaugrana’s court and they must need to do everything in their power to ensure that the German international does not slip away from their grasp after having said yes to a move.