David Ornstein provides bumper update on future of Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan

The future of Ilkay Gundogan looks to remain uncertain during a potentially historic period in Manchester City’s season, a new update has suggested.

Pep Guardiola’s squad captain has been instrumental in the goalscoring department in recent matches, scoring back-to-back braces in Premier League contests against Leeds United last weekend, and Everton most recently.

Those goalscoring antics takes Gundogan’s tally for the season up to nine goals and seven assists in 47 appearances across all competitions – further emphasising his importance to Pep Guardiola’s system, regardless of age not being on his side.

At present, the 2022/23 season would mark the end of Ilkay Gundogan’s stay at Manchester City, with there being no sign of a new contract for the veteran midfielder, despite his performances over the last few weeks in particular.

However, despite talks and negotiations over possible fresh terms coming to somewhat of a standstill, the situation remains open and the extension of his Manchester City deal beyond the end of the current campaign remains a possibility, as per new details.

According to the information of David Ornstein for The Athletic, a decision on where Ilkay Gundogan will continue his career beyond the end of this season is yet to be reached, and no agreements have been struck to determine his next destination.

It is stressed that the situation concerning the Manchester City captain ‘remains open’, and that includes the prospect of the 32 year-old German international extending his seven-year stay at the Etihad Stadium if ‘a compromise’ can be found over the terms of a new deal.

Barcelona have been most heavily-linked with a move for the former Borussia Dortmund man, and there is a feeling in some quarters that the Catalan club have offered Gundogan a greater contract in terms of the length of a deal.

For the time being, Manchester City continue to prepare for the possibility of Ilkay Gundogan leaving the club at the end of the season, and have drawn up a list of midfield transfer targets for the summer market.

With Jude Bellingham seemingly moving closer to an agreement and transfer to Real Madrid, City transfer chiefs may have to look elsewhere despite the England international originally being their number one option this summer.

The likes of Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic and Leicester City’s James Maddison are understood to be names on the list within the Etihad Stadium, while Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga has an enticing release clause in the region of €40 million in his current contract.