Good News:Ilkay Gündogan back to Man City today, PepGuardiolawelcome him – sources
Could Gundogan leave Barcelona as Olmo is in? (0:22)
Manchester City are among the clubs exploring the possibility of signing Ilkay Gündogan amid doubts over his Barcelona future, sources have told ESPN.
Clubs in Saudi Arabia, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr, are also interested in the midfielder, who could leave Barcelona after just one season.
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A source has told ESPN that Barcelona coach Hansi Flick wants the 33-year-old to stay, but club bosses are willing to let him leave if the right offer arrives.
Gündogan, who made 51 appearances last season for the Catalan club, has two years left on the contract he signed when he left City on a free transfer last summer.
City are considering signing another midfielder after allowing Kalvin Phillips to join Ipswich Town in a season-long loan deal.
The club are also looking at bringing in a forward following Julián Álvarez’s departure to Atlético Madrid and Oscar Bobb’s injury, which is set to sideline the Norway international for more than three months.
City were keen to keep Gündogan last summer only for the German, who announced his international retirement on Monday, to reject a number of contract offers.
He eventually agreed a move to Barcelona despite interest from Arsenal. Gündogan left City after making more than 300 appearances across seven years and winning the Premier League title five times.
Ilkay Gündogan joined Barcelona last summer following the expiry of his Manchester City contract. Pedro Salado/Getty Images
A key player for Barcelona last season, Gündogan’s place in the team has come under pressure following the arrival of Dani Olmo from RB Leipzig this summer.
Meanwhile, a source has told ESPN that City are unlikely to entertain offers for captain Kyle Walker despite interest from Al Hilal.
Walker almost left the Etihad to join Bayern Munich a year ago but instead signed a contract which will keep him at the club until 2026.
A source has told ESPN that Al Hilal want to sign a full-back if they can offload former Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi to open up a place for another foreign player in their squad.
However, City do not want to lose Walker just 10 days before the transfer deadline and any approach is set to be rejected.
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Chelsea agree Felix deal, Gallagher to Atleti – sources
play
Will João Félix shine after signing long-term deal with Chelsea? (1:11)
James Olley, Senior Writer, ESPN FCAug 19, 2024, 09:05 PM
Chelsea have agreed a deal in principle to sign João Félix from Atlético Madrid, sources have told ESPN, in a move which should now see Conor Gallagher complete his transfer in the opposite direction.
Talks have intensified in recent days with Atlético needing to move a player out before finalising a deal for Gallagher, who has been training away from the first-team group at the Blues’ Cobham base as he awaits news on his future.
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The exact fee is unclear, but one source told ESPN the final package for Felix could be worth in the region of €50 million including add-ons. The Portugal international was not included in Diego Simeone’s squad for their LaLiga opener against Villarreal on Monday.
After Atleti’s 2-2 draw with Villarreal, Diego Simeone confirmed that Felix’s absence was due to “the transfer market.”
“Soon you will know what I have already been told,” Simeone said with a laugh when he was asked about Felix.
Sources said that Felix has agreed a six-year contract with the option of a further 12 months to rejoin the club where he spent six months on loan last year, scoring four goals in 20 appearances.
Gallagher is now expected to travel to Madrid to complete a £34 million move, having already agreed personal terms and completed a medical.
Felix would become Chelsea’s 11th summer signing after Pedro Neto, Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jörgensen, Omari Kellyman, Aaron Anselmino, Caleb Wiley, Renato Veiga and Marc Guiu with Estevao Willian having agreed to join the Blues in 2025.
The 24-year-old’s imminent arrival will cast further doubt on Raheem Sterling’s status at the club after he was left out of Sunday’s Premier League opening weekend loss to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.
Sterling’s camp issued a statement to ESPN in which he insisted he had developed a positive relationship with head coach Enzo Maresca having featured in all six preseason matches, but he wanted to “gain clarity on the situation” after his omission.
Christopher Nkunku, Mykhailo Mudryk and Neto were included in against City at Sterling’s expense.
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