Expert: Man City open to letting big-name midfielder leave in late deal - 'One to watch'
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Callum O'Connell
Thu 28 August 2025 13:01, UK
Ilkay Gundogan has been labelled “one to watch” in the closing stages of the summer transfer window as he could be set to leave Man City.
That is according to former Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that he would not be surprised to see the 34-year-old leave the Etihad this summer.
Juventus are now believed to have joined the race to sign the midfielder as Pep Guardiola continues to oversee an overhaul of his first-team squad.
Football Insider revealed on 9 August that Guardiola wants to keep Gundogan at Man City despite ongoing interest from the likes of Galatasaray.
The boss is reluctant to let the midfielder go before the window closes, with his experience providing a valuable asset to a young, new-look City squad.
However, Brown has insisted that the ongoing speculation about his future suggests some at the club are open to cashing in in the window’s closing stages.
Brown told Football Insider in June that Man City are prepared to sell Gundogan amid concerns about his ability to play regularly over the coming season.
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The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that there is no smoke without fire with regard to the speculation about his future.
“Ilkay Gundogan might be one to watch,” he told Football Insider.
“There’s been a lot of talk about his future and it’s not going away.
“Usually when speculation like this is refusing to die down, it’s because there’s something in it, so I don’t think you can rule out him leaving Man City.
“I have no doubt he’s a positive influence on the dressing room and that sort of thing, but they’re making massive changes at City this summer.
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“A number of players have been moved on already, I don’t think they’d stand in his way.
“We’ve spoken before about Galatasaray and now Juventus seem to be having a look.
“So it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he left before the end of the window.
“They’re well-stocked in his position and there have been a few question marks over him, so it will be interesting to see what happens.”
Gundogan is not the only player being linked with a move away from the Etihad before the end of the window, with Nathan Ake also attracting interest.
Brown told Football Insider on 26 August that Everton are interested in signing Ake, with City prepared to accept “significant” offers for the Netherland international.
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Ake’s ability to play at left-back would allow David Moyes to strengthen another key area of his side while also adding quality strength in depth to his defence.
Meanwhile, Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to be ruled out until the end of September with a hamstring injury, and Ake would be viewed as competition for the centre-back.
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