Arsenal's pursuit of Ilkay Gundogan from Manchester City this summer has been generating significant buzz, with Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth shedding light on the matter.
Last year, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta astutely secured the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from his former club, a move that proved to be a stroke of genius, immediately elevating the Gunners' status as title contenders. Now, Arteta aims to replicate that success by adding another top-notch Manchester City player to his squad – Gundogan. Sheth weighed in on the subject during his appearance on Sky Sports.
Unsurprisingly, strengthening the midfield is Arsenal's primary focus this summer. The Gunners have been strongly linked with a move for Declan Rice, while Moises Caicedo has also piqued their interest.
Amongst these options, Gundogan stands out as the most seasoned player. Just yesterday, ESPN reported that Arsenal has presented him with a contract offer and hopes to secure his services on a free transfer this summer. Sheth has now disclosed that Pep Guardiola, the Manchester City manager, personally implored Gundogan to remain at the club.
Sheth stated, "There's also interest (from Arsenal) in the Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan. Pep Guardiola has told him: 'You know what I want, I want you to stay!' However, the final decision lies with Gundogan, who holds the power in this situation since his contract is expiring this summer."
Realistically speaking, it appears highly improbable that Gundogan would leave Manchester City for Arsenal this summer. When the Gunners signed Jesus and Zinchenko, both players were not regular starters at the Etihad. They were at a stage in their careers where they yearned for consistent playing time, which City couldn't provide. Conversely, Gundogan currently enjoys the status of being one of the first names on the team sheet at Manchester City. Additionally, he holds the captaincy, raising questions as to why he would consider leaving for another English club.
Nevertheless, Arteta's prior working relationship with Gundogan could play a pivotal role if this move materializes. As of now, though, it seems Guardiola will likely succeed in persuading the midfielder to remain at Manchester City.