Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City to do everything they can to keep Ilkay Gundogan at the club.
Gundogan, 32, delivered another impressive performance and was man-of-the-match for the second consecutive Premier League game as he scored two goals and provided an assist in the 3-0 win over Everton. Coming on the back of his two goals in the 2-1 win over Leeds, the German midfielder is peaking at the right time just as he delivered for City on the final day of last season.
However, the Blues may have to do without him next year as his contract runs out in June and there is no sign of one coming. Barcelona are one of the leading clubs interested, and can sign him on a free if he does not agree fresh terms with City.
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Speaking after the Everton game, Guardiola said that he had expressed his wishes with the board as he praised a player who 'can do everything'. He said: "Nobody knows what is going to happen, maybe he will stay hopefully.
"He can show again and again and again the quality and importance and his commitment, to all of us, to the club, not just scoring goals, now he has his momentum. Against Leeds he was the player and again (against Everton). He can do everything and everything well.
"He doesn’t talk much but when he talks everyone listens and this is the power of the leader, he show his leadership in every training session, arriving on time, living 24 hours your job and play like he is playing.
"He is a player that when he gets close to the box he has an incredible sense of goal, he can play as a holding midfielder no problem, he proved it years ago when Fernandinho was injured, he played in games like Burnley, long balls, you think you need a physical player but he is so clever and he is a guy who handles the pressure well."
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