Barcelona keeping tabs on Manchester City ace for the summer of 2023

Barcelona will continue to target free agents in the summer transfer window of 2023, with Manchester City veteran Ilkay Gundogan among their targets for next year, reports SPORT.

Gundogan has been a top performer for Manchester City over the years even though he had an injury-riddled start to life in England. The German international has emerged as one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants and has been integral to the success that they have achieved.

However, the 31-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium. With the Citizens signing Rodri and Kalvin Phillips in recent years and planning to move for Jude Bellingham, Gundogan’s role in the side will reduce.

And, so even though there is the possibility that the club might want to extend his deal, the former Borussia Dortmund ace might decide to move on at the end of the ongoing campaign.

That is where Barcelona enter the picture. The midfield department is seen as a key area that needs to be strengthened next summer, especially with Sergio Busquets’ departure looming.

And, Gundogan has emerged as one of the several options that the Blaugrana are looking at, considering that he will be available for free and will bring volumes of experience at the highest level to the squad.

Apart from Gundogan, Barcelona continue to retain an interest in his Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva. Signing them both could be tricky as it will lead to a bloated midfield department as well as a significant rise in their wage bill.

Furthermore, links to the likes of Ruben Neves, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante also continue to persist, with the latter two also set to become free agents like Gundogan.

So, it will certainly be interesting to see who Barcelona decide to sign come summer. What’s clear is that Mateu Alemany & co. will continue to keep an eye on the free-agent pool for market opportunities.