Barcelona chief holds meeting with agent of Manchester City star

The agent of Manchester City midfielder and current club captain Ilkay Gundogan has held a meeting with Barcelona’s director of football, it has been revealed.

The Germany international is fast approaching the end of his existing Manchester City contract, and with no sign of an immediate agreement over a new deal, many are starting to presume that his future lies away from the Etihad Stadium.

Gundogan has been free to negotiate with clubs for a number of months now, while also maintaining contacts with City officials over the potential for a new deal, all via the work of his agents.

In a new development this week, it has now emerged that the agents of the former Borussia Dortmund man have held talks with one club that now appears to be his most likely destination beyond this summer – should no agreement be found with his current employers.

As spotted by Marc Núñez of El Chiringuito, Barcelona’s director of football Mateu Alemany has now held a meeting with the representative of Ilkay Gundogan in Catalunya.

Barcelona are also expected to renew their interest in the services of wantaway Manchester City playmaker Bernardo Silva this summer, but financial problems ongoing at the Camp Nou are likely to provide a huge obstacle in finding any sort of agreement.

The La Liga giants see the opportunity to sign Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer as one that cannot be missed, especially given the 32 year-old’s ability to still perform at the very highest level of European football.

Gundogan has starred on multiple occasions this season under Pep Guardiola, building on from a historic Premier League title-winning campaign that saw him score two goals on the final day of last season to win City consecutive top-flight crowns.