Manchester City cannot play down the difference and contribution Gundogan has brought into the cub since joining them, but it looks like his time in the club is nearing the end if the words of hi coach will be a thing to go by.
Pep Guardiola has admitted Ilkay Gundogan could run down his Manchester City contract and leave the club on a free transfer next summer.
City remain in talks with the midfielder over extending his deal, but Guardiola said that the 28-year-old might have doubts about staying at the Etihad Stadium, given the discussions have yet to reach a conclusion.
Gundogan told German newspaper Bild that he was in no rush to sign a new deal, but City are desperate to keep hold of him.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder overcame a serious knee injury in his first season to become a key member of the squad, often filling in for Fernandinho this season and his versatility across midfield means he has made 35 appearances in all competitions this term.
“I think Gundo, in the first season he couldn’t play because of a tough injury, six or seven months out, but always when he was able to play a lot of games he is an incredibly important player,” Guardiola said.
“He knows what we want, he knows what we think about him but it’s the same as other cases like we said in the past, at the end the last decision is not in our hands.
“We try to speak with him, we want him to extend the contract right now. Yesterday would have been better than today, and today better than tomorrow. But if he doesn’t want to, we cannot do anything else.”
Asked what Gundogan wanted to commit his future to City, Guardiola revealed that the player clearly had doubts.
“If he was 100% then the deal would have been done, [but] we are still in negotiations,” the City boss said.
Captain Vincent Kompany is also yet to sign a new deal at the club, despite increased first team involvement recently.
He came on against Schalke following Nicolas Otamendi’s red card and then replaced Aymeric Laporte at half time of the Carabao Cup final, before playing all 90 minutes of the win over West Ham United in midweek.
The 32-year-old has battled injuries again this season, but Guardiola said staying fit was not a prerequisite for securing a new deal.
“No I don’t think so,” he said. “For example the last month he’s fit, when he was six months injured say it’s not in the last three or four years, it happened every season the same.
“I think that will not be the reason why for Vincent staying one more year or two more years or not. I think that is not the reason why.”