---
title: "Manchester City: Ilkay Gundogan eyed by Barcelona for January move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/man-city-transfer-news-ilkay-gundogan-premier-league/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Thompson"
section: "Manchester City News"
published: "2022-11-14T17:45:18Z"
modified: "2022-11-14T17:45:18Z"
---

# Manchester City: Ilkay Gundogan eyed by Barcelona for January move

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is reportedly a target for Barcelona in the upcoming January transfer window.**

### The Lowdown: Gundogan’s contract at Man City

The midfielder’s current [contract](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ilkay-gundogan/profil/spieler/53622) at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire at the end of June, meaning that he could leave the club as a free agent at that point unless he signs a new deal before then.

The 32-year-old, who will be [representing Germany](https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/von-1-bis-26-das-sind-die-rueckennummern-bei-der-wm-in-katar-246040/) at the upcoming [World Cup](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/world-cup-2022/), has recently been linked with a move away from City, with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich [reportedly](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11389859/Atletico-Madrid-join-race-snap-Ilkay-Gundogan-free-transfer.html) interested in signing him.

However, with the January transfer window approaching, it appears that another club have their eyes on the City midfielder.

### The Latest: Barcelona eyeing Gundogan

According to a recent report from [Mundo Deportivo](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/fc-barcelona/20221113/1001894275/guendogan-objetivo-enero.html), Barcelona see Gundogan as a potential target for the upcoming winter transfer window if they cannot land their primary Etihad target Bernardo Silva.

The report adds that the 32-year-old is a big fan of the La Liga club and could be persuaded to join Xavi’s side.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410621″\]

### The Verdict: City must keep hold of Gundogan

Since [joining](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ilkay-gundogan/transfers/spieler/53622) City six years ago, Gundogan – who is now the club captain – has gone on to make [273](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ilkay-gundogan/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/53622) appearances in sky blue across all competitions, scoring 51 goals, providing 35 assists and winning [numerous trophies](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ilkay-gundogan/erfolge/spieler/53622) along the way.

Having appeared in [all but two](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ilkay-gundogan/leistungsdaten/spieler/53622) of City’s games this season, this highlights just how important he is for Pep Guardiola, who has shared his [admiration](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/pep-guardiola-borussia-dortmund-uefa-champions-league-ilkay-gundogan-63753227) for the player in the past, and why it would be a big blow for him to leave the club in January.

\[freshpress-poll id=”415466″\]

Lauded as a “[magical](https://twitter.com/IanMac08/status/982664889511661568?s=20&t=i-KdEkgQfZcAB9HF7rh_aA)” player by journalist Ian McCullough in the past, the [£140k-per-week](https://fbref.com/en/squads/b8fd03ef/2022-2023/wages/Manchester-City-Wage-Details) midfielder has the fourth-highest number of shot-creating actions ([40](https://fbref.com/en/squads/b8fd03ef/Manchester-City-Stats)) in the league this season at City, along with the fourth-highest combined total of tackles and interceptions ([19](https://fbref.com/en/squads/b8fd03ef/Manchester-City-Stats)).

This showcases just how effective a midfield option he is for Guardiola and why the club should look to offer the Germany maestro a new contract.