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Gundogan set to sign new contract after expressing desire to stay

By James Fudge

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Ilkay Gundogan of Manchester City celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 14, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) /
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Manchester City’s Ilkay Gündogan has expressed his desire to stay at the club and is set to sign a new contract to remain with the Premier League champions.

The German international has been linked with Barcelona in recent weeks as they look to replace Andres Iniesta, with earlier reports that Gündogan was keen on a move to the Spanish champions.

However, that may not be the case as he expressed his enjoyment at playing for the club and hoping for a long-term stay.

"“Everyone can see and feel I am really happy here. With the way we play, with the people around me, in the city, in the community, I really enjoy it here and really enjoy my life. I’m happy.” – Gundogan quoted in the Manchester Evening News."

Manchester City is not prepared for the 27-year-old’s contract to run past 18 months as a number of clubs will start circling.

A long-term contract is likely to be on the table once he returns for pre-season training, keeping him at the club for the foreseeable future.

The midfielder is currently at the World Cup and has two years left on his current contract after becoming Pep Guardiola’s first City signing.

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You will not find Gundogan as the first name on the team sheet, however the manager values him highly after tracking when at Bayern Munich and would like to tie him down further.

He played 30 times and impressed when he deputised for one of the starting midfield players, with the highlight his first-half performance against Manchester United in the home defeat.

The former Borussia Dortmund star is currently in Russia preparing for Germany’s crucial fixture tonight against Sweden, where they will need a win to stand any chance of progressing to the next stages.

Gundogan failed to feature in the defeat to Mexico and has endured a tough time with the national squad in the last month, following his controversial meeting with Turkey president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

He was booed in the friendly win against Saudi Arabia and his car was vandalised during the game in Cologne. Some players had even debated his inclusion as a result of the propaganda stunt.

With little love coming from Die Mannschaft fans, the love from the City fans has created the opportunity for Ilkay Gundogan and the club for a continued relationship.

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