City close in on Dortmund midfielder

 

Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain met with Ilkay Gundogan’s representatives in Amsterdam on Tuesday as they step up their interest in the Borussia Dortmund midfielder, reports The Guardian.

 

Pep Guardiola will replace Manuel Pellegrini as the City manager on 1 July when his contract expires at Bayern Munich is believed to have already drafted up a number of transfer targets for the two-time Premier League champions to work on in the mean time.

 

Gundogan, 25, only signed a new two-year deal last summer but his contract is believed to have a £23m release clause and his agent reportedly held a 45-minute conversation at Amsterdam’s Conservatorium Hotel.

 

City close in on Dortmund midfielder

 

The Germany international appears to be over the injury concerns that put his career on hold for the best part of 19 months. In fact, no player has won possession more times in the midfield third in the Bundesliga this season than Gundogan (102), whose dominate performances in the middle of the park have been integral to their success under Thomas Tuchel.

 

For more stats on Ilkay Gundogan, click here to visit his WhoScored player page