Manchester City enter ‘advanced talks’ with Premier League club for Ilkay Gundogan replacement

Manchester City are looking to beat Arsenal to the signature of West Ham captain Declan Rice, as Pep Guardiola seeks to replace the departing Ilkay Gundogan.

City are searching to replace club captain Ilkay Gundogan, with the midfielder having chosen not to extend his seven-year stay at the Etihad Stadium and move to Barcelona on a free transfer, following the expiration of his contract at the end of the month.

The 32 year-old departs the Sky Blues as a treble-winning captain, having led Manchester City to the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League during an historic campaign.

Gundogan, who scored 60 goals for City, many of which were hugely significant, will likely leave a gapping void within the Manchester City midfield, forcing the Blues to enter the transfer market.

City are set to confirm the signing of Mateo Kovacic in the coming weeks, however the 29 year-old Chelsea midfielder is not expected to be a direct replacement for Gundogan.

West Ham captain Declan Rice could however be a replacement for the German international, as Manchester City reportedly prepare to rival Arsenal for the signing of the Hammers midfielder.

Manchester City are claimed to be in ‘advanced talks’ with West Ham about signing their club captain, according to Gianluca Di Marzio, as the Premier League champions step up their pursuit of replacing Gundogan.

Guardiola sees the 24 year-old an ‘ideal fit’ to replace the outgoing 32 year-old according to David McDonnell, with City preparing to potentially hijack Arsenal’s move for the midfielder with a £100 million bid.

The Gunners have had successive bids of £80 and £90 million rejected by West Ham, and City are ‘ready’ to equal the British record-fee they paid Aston Villa for Jack Grealish to sign Rice, claim The Mirror.

Personal terms would not be an issue for the Sky Blues, with an offer of around £200,000 a week expected, McDonnell further claims.

Rice would become the latest England international to move to the Etihad Stadium, playing alongside Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden.

Manchester City are also currently at risk of losing midfielder Bernardo Silva, who is drawing significant interest from Saudi Arabia, as well as Paris Saint-Germain.