Ilkay Gundogan is ‘most intelligent player’ Pep Guardiola has worked with but could leave Man City this summer and be replaced by Manchester United target

Ilkay Gundogan is reportedly set to leave Manchester City in the summer as the German searches for more regular first team football.

The midfielder was Pep Guardiola’s first signing back in 2016 when he was a £21million addition from Borussia Dortmund.

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The 31-year-old has been an ever dependable presence in the City midfield and is, in many ways, the perfect Pep player.

For most of his career he played in a deeper midfield role but, during the 2020/21 season with Kevin De Bruyne missing numerous games through injury, he stepped up to become the goalscorer they needed.

Gundogan fired in 13 Premier League goals as they stormed to the Premier League title.

“He is one of the most intelligent, wisest players I have ever trained, I have ever seen,” Guardiola said last season.

But now the Daily Mail report he will be allowed to find another club in the summer when he will have just one year left on his contract.

An extension is said to be unlikely and the player could leave on amicable terms.

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Gundogan has featured in 20 of City’s 37 Premier League matches so far, but is said to want assurances of first-team football.

Midfield reinforcements will be a must for Guardiola over the summer with Fernandinho set to leave on a free transfer.

City have been linked with Paul Pogba, who is leaving Manchester United on a free, but he is reportedly unlikely to switch Manchester clubs.

Southampton star James Ward-Prowse is also said to be on Guardiola’s radar, but the £75million-rated man is also a target for rivals United.