Ilkay Gundogan has a high chance of making a summer transfer to Turkish giants Galatasaray, according to one of the country’s most iconic former players.
The former Germany international was brought back to the Etihad Stadium by Manchester City officials at the end of the last summer market, just one year on from leaving the club for FC Barcelona on another free agreement.
City had previously turned down big-money potential deals with a number of clubs from across the European game, feeling as though their own valuations of profiles were not being matched by clubs during conversations.
One player who matched that category was Newcastle United’s Bruno Guimaraes, whom Manchester City rejected the chance to sign via the midfielder’s £100 million release clause earlier in the summer.
Now, and just six months after bringing their legendary Treble-winning captain back to the club, discussions are already beginning to grow over the possibility of Gundogan leaving Manchester City during the next summer transfer window.
Speaking as quoted by newspaper Fanatik, former Turkey international striker Tugay was quizzed on the potential transfer business to be completed by Galatasaray in 2025, to which he mentioned Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan.
“I don’t like selling people dreams, but 85, 90% is İlkay Gündoğan. It’s not clear, 85, 90%,” the now-pundit revealed, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness. When quizzed for any further details concerning a possible salary for the midfielder, he continued, “I don’t know about that.”
Galatasaray’s manager, Okan Buruk was also asked about the potential move and kept the door open to the idea of Gundogan leaving Manchester City at the end of his current contractual agreement penned last summer.
“Every team wants İlkay Gündoğan. We all know he is a good Galatasaray player. If he wears the Galatasaray jersey one day, it would make everyone happy,” Buruk admitted. “He continues at Manchester City. It looks like he will finish the season there.”
Gundogan himself has been quizzed on the possibility of joining Galatasaray at some stage during the final years of his top-level playing career, and kept the door open to the idea during an interview last September.
“Never say never,” the 33-year-old said when the idea of joining the Turkish giants was put to him. “It would be something that would fill me with pride but at the end of the day you have to look at the circumstances at a certain time.”
Manchester City are widely expected to be in the market for new central midfielders during both of the transfer windows in 2025, believing that a long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne and an able back-up to Rodri are needed immediately to ensure success.
