Manchester City 'showing increasing interest' in Ilkay Gundogan

By Lyall Thomas

Image: The pull of Pep Guardiola could prove too strong to resist for Ilkay Gundogan

Manchester City are showing increasing interest in Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, according to Sky in Italy.

Juventus inquired about the 25-year-old Germany international during the January transfer window but were told he was off the market.

Sky sources in Italy believe the Serie A champions now face competition from City and Barcelona in the approach to the summer transfer window.

And reports in Spain claim Gundogan has broken off negotiations with Barcelona and told them he expects to join City to play under incoming manager Pep Guardiola.

Spanish newspaper Deportes claim Gundogan has also told Dortmund that he will not be extending his contract, which expires in 2017.

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But the Bundesliga club's head coach Thomas Tuchel insists the club are still fighting to keep him.

What would Ilkay Gundogan bring to the Premier League?

The Germany midfielder is attracting serious interest from Manchester City

He said: "I believe it's not the case that there isn't a chance he'll stay. The importance of Ilkay in this form is undisputed, but one can imagine that the interest from other clubs is very high."

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Dortmund have won 15 of their 21 league games so far this season and defensive-midfielder Gundogan has been in superb form.

He began his career as a trainee at Nuremberg before moving to Dortmund under current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for £4m in 2011, and he has made over 100 appearances for the club.

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