ARSENAL’s swoop for Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan is being HIJACKED and he could reportedly agree to join a rival club TODAY.
Treble hero Gundogan, 32, is set to leave the Etihad this summer after City initially only offered him a one-year deal.
City have since improved their terms by adding another year but the German star wanted more time to contemplate his future after their historic Champions League triumph and was announced on their released list.
Arsenal were understood to be right at the front of the queue for their European return, but it now it seems that one of the continent's biggest clubs has won the race to sign the midfielder.
Mikel Arteta had hoped to lure the man he worked with at the Etihad previously to the Emirates to link-up with ex-City stars Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
But Mundo Deportivo, who claimed on Sunday that Barcelona “were optimistic” about signing him, have now received “positive messages” from the star’s agent.
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He had reportedly told them last week that he wanted to think over a proposal made to him by the LaLiga giants.
Gundogan and his representatives are then said to have held further talks after he had finished international duty with Germany.
And although Barca chiefs are “not taking it for granted”, this fresh update claims sources have informed them that the deal could potentially be finalised by close of play today.
Barcelona director Mateu Alemany has led the negotiations but it was manager Xavi that appears to have sealed it.
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He is believed to have convinced Gundogan in a direct chat that the move to the Nou Camp would be right for him, despite higher financial packages on offer from City, Arsenal and from interested Middle East clubs.
Gundogan enjoyed a stellar season for City this season and scored a pair of volleys in City's 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final.
He has scored 60 goals and provided 40 assists in 304 appearances in all competitions since arriving at the Etihad from Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
But now it looks like his last act as a City player was to skipper them to Champions League glory against Inter Milan to seal the historic Treble.
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