Arsenal midfield target Ilkay Gundogan has requested to be allowed to leave Borussia Dortmund in the summer, it has been confirmed.
The German international’s contract with Dortmund expires next summer and the club are expected to let him leave at the end of the season, rather than lose him on a free transfer next year.
Speaking at the weekend, Dortmund’s sporting director Michael Zorc told Sky:
“He wants to leave us in the summer. That’s what he told us,”
“Depending on the offers on the table, we will make a decision.”
Arsenal have been heavily linked with the midfield powerhouse, whilst Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Juventus are all said to hold interest in the talented German.
The Gunners face a strong battle for his signature but boast a strong German contingent at the club, which includes Gundogan’s international team-mates Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil.
That could prove to be an advantage for Arsenal, who are only targeting ‘world class’ players according to Arsene Wenger- but Gundogan fits that mild.