Galatasaray are considering a move for Ilkay Gündogan, withManchester Cityopen to a transfer for the 34-year-old midfielder.
The Turkish club are believed to have inquired about Gündogan’s availability in the winter window but City did not want him to leave midway through the season. But with Pep Guardiola having signed Nico González in Februaryand Tijjani Reijndersin this window, with Rodri again fit after a serious knee injury and Mateo Kovacic expected back from an achilles problem in mid-September, game time for Gündogan may be limited.
Although the one-year extension on Gündogan’s contract was triggered towards the end of last season after he played a certain number of minutes, he may be allowed to leave without a fee.
The German, whose parents were born in Turkey, is believed to have a desire to play for Galatasaray, the Super Lig champions.
The former Germany international, who turns 35 in October, suggested he still had much to offer. “There seems to be a trend at the moment in football where people are saying: ‘This player is too old,’ or: ‘Another one cannot run any more.’ But we always have had this in football.
“You need experienced players on the pitch. I know that when I was 18 or 19 I was looking up to those experienced players. Just by watching what they did – and how they did it – I learned. It wasn’t always necessary for them to say anything. All young players need some experience around them. Sometimes you don’t have to work harder but work smarter.”