Manchester City recently triggered a contract extension to keep Ilkay Gundogan from leaving on a free transfer, but his future remains clouded in ambiguity.
The Manchester City No.19 has been strongly linked with a move to Turkey this summer, which represents the final opportunity Hugo Viana has to sell the German for a fee.
Galatasaray want to sign Gundogan – according to respected Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu – and the Manchester City icon is said to be keen on a move to Istanbul, as he is rumoured to be a fan of the Super Lig outfit.
Now, Pep Guardiola might have made Ilkay Gundogan even more interested in leaving the Etihad Stadium after choosing to hand Bernardo Silva the captaincy.
Bernardo Silva decision could be telling
Before his contract expired in July 2023 and he moved to Barcelona on a free transfer, the 34-year-old successfully captained Manchester City to a historic Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League treble.
Therefore, many would have expected Gundogan to be given the armband back this summer as Kyle Walker prepares to follow Kevin De Bruyne out of the exit door, so the fact Guardiola has chosen to overlook the man born in Gelsenkirchen could well suggest he’s not going to be around for the 2025/26 campaign.
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Alternatively, if the midfielder is planning to stay for next season, he could even feel hurt by the decision to name Silva as captain, having previously held that status himself to great effect.
Manchester City interest in Ederson also suggests Hugo Viana is preparing to act if Ilkay Gundogan joins Galatasaray
If Galatasaray – who have already landed Leroy Sane on a free transfer – sign Gundogan this summer, Viana could get in touch with Atalanta.
Manchester City have been linked with Ederson after the Brazilian midfielder developed into one of Europe’s finest under Gian Piero Gasperini in Bergamo, and Atalanta are open to selling for £59m.
Aged just 25, the South American would represent a long-term replacement for Gundogan, so if the Manchester City legend does depart, that transfer saga could start to heat up.