Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan. The Spaniard worked with Gundogan during his time working under Pep Guardiola as a coach at the Etihad Stadium.
The 32-year-old midfielder has won five Premier League titles since he joined City back in 2016 but is out of contract this summer. The German has been linked with a move to Barcelona ahead of next season but Arsenal hold a strong interest in signing the City midfielder with Granit Xhaka expected to leave the Emirates Stadium.
The Swiss midfielder is in advanced talks to join Bayer Leverkusen in a €15million (£13million) deal and looks set to sign a contract until 2027 with the German club, football.london understands. The Gunners are prioritising a move for West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer but a move for Gundogan could be pursued as Arteta looks to bolster his squad ahead of a return to the Champions League.
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The 32-year-old has scored nine goals and provided a further seven assists for City in all competitions this season as he proved to be a crucial figure in the run-in with braces against Leeds and Everton before lifting the Premier League trophy on Sunday afternoon. Arsenal poached Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Etihad Stadium last summer and could now repeat that transfer plan with a move for Gundogan - whilst also being linked with a swoop for Joao Cancelo.
Arteta clearly admires the German midfielder after his past comments on Gundogan in 2021. In February of that year the Arsenal boss lauded Gundogan's ability and performances in a more advanced role for City.
"Well I think now he's playing a higher role in the team," Arteta said. "He's always had the ability to arrive in the box and has great timing and great qualities to finish the actions.
"Before he played a deeper role and he had the license to do that. He's a tremendous player and he's doing really, really well this season."
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