Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued an update on two of the club’s midfielders. According to a post by Fabrizio Romano Guardiola had this to say about the future of Ilkay Gundogan: “If you ask me personally, I want Ilkay Gundogan to stay here at Man City. There is no one thinking he cannot be here….If he wants to leave, as a club we don’t know it”. In addition, Pep Guardiola comments included that Fernandinho is set to leave.
Pep Guardiola Comments on Future of Ilkay Gundogan and Fernandinho
Fernandinho
Guardiola confirming the future of Fernandinho will come as no surprise to those who have followed the story. The 37-year-old midfielder has already stated his intention to leave the club as he has seen his game time diminish in recent seasons. The Brazilian has made 263 appearances for Manchester City since joining the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, establishing himself as a club legend in the process. Reports are stating that the Citizens have already lined up a replacement for the defensive-minded midfielder with Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips reportedly their main target.
Ilkay Gundogan
Since joining Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund, Ilkay Gundogan has been a constant feature in the Manchester City team and just last season, he was the teams leading goalscorer in the Premier League. Gundogan is an important part of Pep Guardiola’s team, keeping the team ticking with his passing ability and popping up with key goals when needed.
Manchester City will be desperate to hold on to the German midfielder, especially with the upcoming arrival of Erling Haaland. With a striker of that quality on the way in, Manchester City will be keen to keep their best playmakers on hand to make Haaland’s transition to the Premier League as easy as possible. While Fernandinho may be an easy man to replace, Guardiola and his team know just how difficult it would be to replace a player of Gundogan’s quality.
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