Ilkay Gundogan receives 3-year contract offer to leave Barcelona: Reports
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has reportedly received a three-year contract offer from Qatari club Al Sadd. This is according to ESport3, who claim that the German international is considering a move this summer (via @BarcaUniversal).
The report states that the former Manchester City man could also ask for a counteroffer. However, for the Catalan side, it may be the right time to let go of Gundogan, with the midfielder having a year left on his current deal at Camp Nou.
If the Blaugrana decide to keep the 33-year-old at the club beyond the summer, they could risk losing him for free in 2025. However, this wouldn't be too bad, considering Gundogan joined Barcelona from Manchester City in the summer of 2023 on a free transfer.
Although it wouldn't be a financial blow, the German's absence in the midfield would be a huge one after the important role he played last season. He made 51 appearances across all competitions for his current employers, bagging five goals and 14 assists.
With Gundogan approaching the latter stages of his career, a move away from Europe might just suit the ex-Borussia Dortmund star. Many other senior pros have decided to move to Asian clubs, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Neymar, among others.
The central midfielder is yet to win a trophy with Barcelona after a disappointing campaign last season that saw them finish second in La Liga to Real Madrid by 10 points.
Barcelona in talks with representative of French midfielder, with Ilkay Gundogan on the move - Reports
Should Barcelona lose Ilkay Gundogan this summer, they will need an able replacement for the German. One option could be the experienced French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who is currently a free agent after deciding against a contract renewal at Juventus.
According to CaughtOffSide, the Blaugrana and their rivals Real Madrid are in contact with the player's agent (via Football Espana). However, the report claims that neither side are in pole position, with Manchester United the most likely to secure his services.
It is believed that Rabiot is seeking a three-year deal that would provide him with an annual salary of €10 million /€15 million, which may be too much for Barcelona. Given the poor financial situation at the club, they may well decide against pushing hard for the former Paris Saint-Germain star this summer.
Rabiot is versatile and can play in both defensive and central midfield roles based on the coach's requirements.