Manchester City have released their official list of departing players ahead of the upcoming season, drawing particular attention from Arsenal as manager Mikel Arteta looks to secure his first signing of the summer transfer window.
The list features four players leaving the reigning Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League winners, with club captain Ilkay Gundogan standing out.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with the experienced German midfielder, heightening interest in his availability.
Arsenal have previously acquired players from Manchester City, signing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer. However, Gundogan’s case is different, as his contract is set to expire at the end of June, making him available on a free transfer.
Manchester City’s submission of their release list to the Premier League on Friday confirmed that Gundogan is poised to become a free agent on June 30.
This has allowed Arsenal to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with the midfielder since the Premier League season concluded.
However, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, Gundogan’s inclusion on the release list doesn’t guarantee his departure or an imminent Arsenal move. Players with expiring contracts must be listed, even if contract negotiations are still underway.
Manchester City are reportedly making a late push to retain Gundogan, offering him a longer contract in hopes of persuading him to stay.
Meanwhile, the midfielder, currently on international duty with Germany, is contemplating his next move. Barcelona have also emerged as serious contenders for his signature, adding further competition.
Gundogan, who recently captained Manchester City to their first Champions League title with a victory over Inter Milan, is expected to announce his decision soon. Reflecting on his seven-year journey at the club following their FA Cup final win against Manchester United, he remarked, “Nothing is decided yet, so we’ll see what happens.”
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