Not Bernardo Silva nor Mahrez, the Manchester City star that Messi would want for PSG

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are battling it out for the signature of yet another Manchester City player. After both clubs lost out on Bernardo Silva in the off-season, they have turned their attention to a central midfielder they will not need a cent to secure because he becomes a free agent in 2023. As hard as the City hierarchy have tried, Ilkay Gundogan refuses to come to the negotiating table.

The German's experience in the Bundesliga and the Premier League means that he has played in two of the top five leagues in Europe. This makes him an attractive option for teams seeking to go deep in the Champions League. PSG is a team that appreciates that in order to make it to the latter stages of the world's most prestigious club competition, a big, quality squad is needed.

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Money is not an issue at the Parc des Princes so the capital club would out-bargain Barcelona or any other suitor with the salary they could offer Gundogan. The German wants to leave Manchester City, which is the only other club in the world with pockets as deep as PSG's. If the French side wants the midfielder, the only thing standing in their way would be the player himself.

Gundogan remains an important part of Pep Guardiola's plans, and the Catalan tactician has indicated that this will not change. Perhaps his current manager hopes he can lure him into discussions at the end of the season but Gundogan is free to talk to teams from January. It is understood that City have offered a new contract, however the player has not signed.

Barcelona vs PSG again

At Barcelona players have been asked to take a reduction in wages, which might not be an attractive prospect for a free agent looking to score the last good deal of his career. That places PSG in pole position to offer the German almost any deal he desires. They can only hope he is willing to join a squad packed with talent, which he is used to at City. The weaker French league may be the only stumbling block.