How Borussia Dortmund Could Best Replace Ilkay Gundogan

The Ilkay Gundogan saga could finally come to an end in the summer, it seems. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder has agreed to join up with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, per Charlie Wyett of the Sun.

The Times’ Rory Smith, meanwhile, reported this week that City have informed “the Bundesliga side that they are prepared to pay €18 million (£13.95 million) with a further €5m (£3.88m) depending on performances.” 

It seems highly unlikely that Dortmund would find that offer sufficient, but let’s assume a deal gets done eventually.

Some fans of the Ruhr side would rejoice at a resolution to the drama, seeing as Gundogan was ready to leave the club last year. Dortmund even put out a statement on their Facebook page in April, reporting that the midfielder had decided “not to renew his contract” and that the two sides would part ways “by 30 June 2016 at the latest.” 

Gundogan, of course, extended his contract two months later, but only until 2017.

The whirlwind of speculation has died down, with City the clear frontrunners for his signature. While fans won’t miss the drama, they’ll likely come to miss Gundogan.

Dortmund’s No. 8 is playing a fabulous season. He’s arguably the most important midfielder in first-year head coach Thomas Tuchel’s system.

Fully recovered from a mysterious back injury that kept him out of football for 14 months between August 2013 and October 2014, he has rediscovered his form and re-established himself as a …

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