Arsenal face major competition for Ilkay Gundogan as Pep Guardiola reveals Man City stance

Pep Guardiola has spoken out on his hopes of keeping the City captain, who lifted each of the club’s trophies as they claimed an historic treble in the 2022-23 season.

Arsenal are interested in landing the German on a free transfer with his contract expiring at the end of the month, as part of a midfield revamp that will also see Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia targeted.

Standard Sport reported on Monday that Thomas Partey could leave along with Granit Xhaka as part of Mikel Arteta’s summer plan.

But any deal for Gundogan will mean Arsenal must convince him to snub the offer of a renewal with City or a switch to Spanish champions Barcelona.

“I’m aware of Barcelona’s interest in signing Gundogan but we’re also very interested in keeping him at the club,” Guardiola told reporters in Spain.

“I hope he stays with us.

“If Barcelona succeed in signing him, they will get a great, fantastic player.”

Guardiola was pictured on Sunday night meeting with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, who he worked with during his time at the Camp Nou.

The Spaniard was also quizzed over a potential move for Kylian Mbappe ahead of his Paris Saint-Germain contract expiring next year. However, he asserted that such a deal was not on City’s agenda as he stated: “You know where he wants to go.”