Sources: Man City fear Ilkay Gundogan to snub contract offer and quit
Man City fear Ilkay Gundogan will snub their contract offer to leave on a free transfer, sources have told Football Insider.
The Premier League champions are keen to keep hold of the Germany international, who turned 32 last week.
His current contract expires at the end of the season and he will be free to agree a pre-contract with a foreign club from 1 January.
City have been in contact with Gundogan's camp to discuss an extension but there is no agreement currently in place.
Gundogan has suitors from the Premier League as well as on the Continent amid fears at the Etihad Stadium he is keen on a new challenge.
The midfielder has remained a key member of Pep Guardiola's team this season, which is his seventh at the club.
He has started 12 Premier League and Champions League matches among 16 appearances in all competitions.
The German was the first signing of the Guardiola era back in 2016 when he joined from Borussia Dortmund at a cost of £20million.
Always a major goal threat, Gundogan scored 13 times in 28 league appearances among 17 goals in all competitions in 2020-21.
He followed that up last term with another 10 goals, including the memorable double in the season finale against Aston Villa that secured the title for City.
Gundogan has now played 269 times in all competitions for City, scoring 51 goals and laying on 34 assists.