Ilkay Gundogan set for Bundesliga return

34-year-old midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will leave the Etihad Stadium during the transfer window, with interest from duo Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen. The player returned to Manchester City from Barcelona last summer, but had a disappointing campaign, scoring just one Premier League goal in 33 games, and Pep Guardiola has given the all clear for the German's departure.

The former Germany international can leave the Etihad Stadium for a fee of around 2 million euros, according to reports, and Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik Ten Hag sees the veteran as a possible replacement for Granit Xhaka, who made a transfer to Premier League team Sunderland. Werder Bremen are also exploring a transfer deal.

Gundogan can still add plenty of value to any team but there are concerns that he is unable to keep up with the pace of the Premier League, and therefore Guardiola will let the club legend exit early from his contract.

Gundogan famously won the Champions League with Man City, as well as five consecutive league titles between the 2017-18 and 2022-23 season.