If it wasn’t for a serious injury, maybe Ilkay Gundogan would have already been gone from Borussia Dortmund. On the other hand, maybe they had been doing better this season. Any way, now that he’s healthy, the interest from Premier League clubs resumes, suggesting Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are all interested in the 24 year old German.
So who wants Gundogan, despite not showing incredible ability? Well, according to the Daily Express, everyone. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. All have different needs and roles set up for him if he arrives, but all can do with him in a certain capacity. Probably coming off the bench for Chelsea, morel likely to play for Manchester United and Arsenal, 100% playing with Liverpool.
After playing a huge part in Dortmund reaching the 2013 Champions League final, Gundogan seemed to be one of many to show up on shortlists all around Europe among the big & rich. However, a spine injury kept him off the football pitches for more than a year, also causing him to miss the World Cup in 2014, won by Germany. At 24, with more than a year of football “robbed” from him, Gundogan has only eight caps.
At the time, he was one of the more exciting midfield prospects in Europe, with the ability to defend, pass and attack while dictating play and pace from the middle of the pitch, effortlessly taking over the departing Nuri Sahin, who has never rebounded from leaving Dortmund anyway. Gundogan is back this season, playing eight times for the fading away Dortmund, unable to provide the spark that keeps them away from the relegation battles at this point.
But what about the future? Dortmund are in a solid financial situation, but they’re not one of the richest clubs in Europe, despite the huge following, the Champions League football and the sale of a star like Mario Gotze. They’re simply unable to compete financially with Bayern Munich, and aren’t a big name when it comes to merchandise around the world like Bayern, Premier League clubs and the Spanish duopoly.
So who wants Gundogan, despite not showing incredible ability? Well, according to the Daily Express, everyone. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. All have different needs and roles set up for him if he arrives, but all can do with him in a certain capacity. Probably coming off the bench for Chelsea, morel likely to play for Manchester United and Arsenal, 100% playing with Liverpool.
The price? Some suggest it can happen for £16 million this January. Gundogan could have gone for twice as much before the injury, but that’s in the past. The big question is whether Dortmund are actually willing to let anyone go with a relegation battle coming after winter passes and the Champions League second round to worry about as well.