It feels like a lifetime ago now but there was a stage when Manchester City's transfer window was tinged with a hint of peril.
Way back in May, before the season had even concluded, Ilkay Gundogan was being heavily linked with a move away from City. In the final, pivotal weeks of the season, speculation was growing stronger. The likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and, of course, Barcelona were all linked and with only a year remaining on his contract, the possibility of a departure looked worryingly high.
The German was spotted at a private jet terminal in May which sparked a flurry of speculation. He was instead jetting off to get married but the anxiety caused showed how real the threat was perceived. The timing of the reports was said to have infuriated his agent but Gundogan remained level-headed, saying nothing would be resolved until the end of the season.
