Arsenal pursuing move for another Manchester City star this summer - Reports

Arsenal are interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer this summer, according to The Athletic.

The Gunners' hopes of winning the Premier League officially came to an end after they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest on Saturday (May 20). They were six points above Manchester City at the start of April but won just two of their following six games, allowing the Cityzens to take a seven-point lead.

What appeared to be a dream run has now ended in disappointment for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is, nevertheless, determined to build on this season's progress, with planning for the summer transfer window underway.

The midfield is an area the north London giants are keen to strengthen. West Ham United's Declan Rice has long been identified as a priority target and they have also been credited with an interest in Chelsea's Mason Mount as they look to add more creativity to their team.

According to the aforementioned source, the Gunners could sign another midfielder if Granit Xhaka leaves. The Switzerland international is edging closer to joining Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen for around £13 million, according to reports.

Manchester City star Gundogan has thus emerged as a target for Arsenal. Arteta, who worked with German during his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant at the Etihad between 2016 and 2019, is leading the club's charge to sign the midfielder.

Gundogan has been an important player for the Cityzens since joining them from Borussia Dortmund for around £20 million in 2016. He has bagged 58 goals and 40 assists from 301 appearances across competitions, helping the club win 12 trophies, including five Premier League titles.

However, the 32-year-old's future at the Etihad is in doubt as his contract ends in June. Manchester City are keen to retain his services and have offered him a one-year deal with an option to extend it by another 12 months, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Barcelona, meanwhile, have also been credited with an interest in signing the central midfielder. The La Liga champions have reportedly already made an offer to the player.

Arsenal, though, could attempt to lure Gundogan to the Emirates Stadium. They are seemingly prepared to raid the Cityzens again after signing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko for a combined £75 million last summer.

Those two deals proved fruitful for the London giants as Jesus and Zinchenko were pivotal to their title charge this season. The former bagged ten goals and six assists in 25 league games, while the latter excelled in the inverted full-back role, making 33 appearances across competitions.

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Arsenal linked with Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo

Ilkay Gundogan is not the only Manchester City player Arsenal are interested in signing this summer. Mikel Arteta's side have also been linked with a move for Joao Cancelo, who is currently on loan at Bayern Munich.

The Gunners lack traditional right-backs in their squad, with central defender Ben White playing in the position for most of the season. They appear keen to address the issue by snapping him up Cancelo.

Cancelo established himself as a key player for the Cityzens after joining them from Juventus for £55 million. He has bagged nine goals and 22 assists in 154 games across competitions for the club, helping them win six trophies, including three Premier League titles.

However, Cancelo fell down the pecking order under Pep Guardiola during the first half of the current season. He started only two of Manchester City's five league games after the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading him to join Bayern on loan in January.

The Bundesliga giants are unlikely to make the Portugal international's move permanent, according to German journalist Florian Plettenberg. Arsenal, though, have been mooted as a potential option for the full-back.