The future of İlkay Gündoğan at FC Barcelona seems to be increasingly uncertain. Although initially it seemed that his continuity at the Blaugrana club was an unquestionable fact, in recent days, there have been reports suggesting that the Gelsenkirchen native could be seeing his adventure as a Culé coming to an end, even this summer.
At this point, the Catalan club seemingly wouldn't mind entertaining offers for a player for whom they could still fetch between 20 and 30 million euros in the right environment. With this move, the Catalan team would achieve a double benefit, as they would receive a considerable sum for a player who arrived on a free transfer and would save the wages of a player who is currently the third highest earner (9 million euros net per season) in the Barcelona squad.
However, the team doesn't seem intent on forcing his departure but rather has apparently left the decision in Gündo's hands, giving him the power to choose between staying at FC Barcelona, where he would face stiff competition in the attacking midfield area with Dani Olmo, Pedri González, and Fermín López, and where the playing style demands a high physical output, or seeking a new footballing destination. In the latter case, there seems to be a destination emerging as a favorite, albeit with an important condition.
The offer that 'Gündo' would have to leave FC Barcelona
According to 'SPORT', Galatasaray, a team that in the past showed real interest in the Blaugrana '22' through their president Dursun Özbek, is reportedly reigniting their interest in the talented 33-year-old midfielder. A destination that wouldn't be entirely indifferent for the midfielder, who doesn't rule out joining the Turkish Super Lig in the future, although he has made it clear that it won't be this summer.
However, as the aforementioned source points out, 'Galata' would have a different stance regarding the German's acquisition. Why? They could only go ahead with the operation if the player leaves the Culé club as a free agent, implying that his signing wouldn't be possible until 2025, the year his contract with the Catalan side expires, although there's an option to extend it for another season.
Will Galatasaray launch an offensive for Gündogan this summer?
It remains to be seen how this renewed interest from Galatasaray in İlkay Gündoğan unfolds, as for the deal to materialize outside of the option to sign him for free, a lot of flexibility would be required from Barcelona in terms of the amount demanded by the 'star player', as well as from the player himself, whose current salary could complicate his acquisition by the Turkish side.
With a net salary of nine million euros per season, Gündo would become the highest-paid player at the current reigning champions of the Turkish Super Lig, surpassing Mauro Icardi, who currently earns around six million euros. Despite this substantial figure, Galatasaray seems willing to match it to make the midfielder their major summer signing. Will they succeed?