Barcelona increasingly confident about signing Premier League midfielder

Ilkay Gundogan is undoubtedly one of Barcelona’s main targets as we slowly approach the summer transfer window.

The midfielder has become a highly-rated commodity in the market for Barça, as his contract expires at the end of the season.

With a financial crisis plaguing Barça once again, the prospect of signing the Manchester City star on a free transfer is very appealing for the club.

According to 90 Min, Barcelona are close to signing Gundogan. Although talks between the two parties have not yielded a formal agreement, Camp Nou remains the most likely destination for the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Manchester City, for their part, have offered him a new deal. But the player is considering his other options. They will not force the issue as the player has provided extraordinary service to the club over the years.

Pep Guardiola has previously hinted he would like Gundogan to remain at the Etihad, but he will not force the player to stay. Barcelona, to that end, are one of the options for the midfielder, as he contemplates making the next step in his career.

Barcelona are not the only club interested in Gundogan, as Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich also court the player.

But one would imagine the German may prefer a move to Camp Nou, where he has the opportunity to become the direct replacement of Sergio Busquets, who is yet to accept the club’s renewal offer.

However, even though Barça are leading the chase, it must be noted that it may take some time for both parties to reach an agreement. This is because the club are facing a precarious financial situation.

In order for Barça to make a lucrative offer, the club must get rid of multiple unwanted stars in order to generate fresh revenue and balance their books. This process is bound to take some time, especially with the club keen on signing other players in the market, including Lionel Messi.