Arsenal target Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan

IN DEMAND: Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan is a target for Arsenal. Pic: PA

Arsenal are pursuing a move for Ilkay Gundogan as Mikel Arteta looks to reshape his midfield for a sustained title push next season.

Gundogan is out of contract this summer and his future at Manchester City is uncertain. The champions are likely to offer him a new deal while Barcelona also hold a firm interest, but Arsenal have entered the running for his signature and the prospect of working alongside Arteta may appeal to the 32-year-old.

The pair worked together during Arteta’s spell as assistant to Pep Guardiola at City, and the Arsenal manager has previous for persuading ex-colleagues to make the move south. Both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko arrived from City last summer and made significant impressions in a team that ultimately fell short of taking the title race to the wire.

Gundogan, though, has been more important to City than either Jesus or Zinchenko. He has been in brilliant form this season, scoring nine times and putting in a string of influential performances while captaining the side, and his arrival would constitute a major coup despite his advanced years. The deciding factor may be the length of contract available: Guardiola wants to keep Gündogan but the player is likely to require a deal of two guaranteed years if his spell in Manchester, which began in 2016, is to be extended.

Arteta’s midfield will have room for a senior figure when Granit Xhaka, who is close to joining Bayer Leverkusen, departs after seven years at the club. Arsenal remain front-runners in the race for West Ham’s Declan Rice, although they may face competition from Manchester United to close what will be an expensive transfer. Mason Mount, whose contract at Chelsea ends next season, is also on their radar.

Guardian