Manchester City vs Schalke: Ilkay Gundogan in no rush to settle future as contract winds down

Gundogan’s current deal expires in the summer of 2020, after which he will be able to leave Pep Guardiola’s side on a free transfer

Ilkay Gundogan has said that he is in no rush to settle his Manchester City future as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract at the Etihad.

Gundogan’s current deal expires in the summer of 2020, after which he will be able to leave Pep Guardiola’s side on a free transfer.

The midfielder is currently providing cover for the injured Fernandinho but has largely been in and out of Guardiola’s first-choice line-up after three injury-ravaged seasons.

Guardiola said on Saturday that City would prefer Gundogan to stay at the club, though he would not stand in his player’s way if he desired to leave.

“There is no decision yet, otherwise I would have signed or rejected a contract,” Gundogan said ahead of City’s Champions League last-16 tie against Schalke.

“We are still in talks but I don’t feel there is much pressure, maybe because we are still competing in all the competitions and we still want to go as far as possible in everything we are competing in.

“Obviously one day there has to be a decision but I am very happy at the moment here, especially about the way we play and how we play under Pep, and that is the main thing.”

City have an internal club stance of not allowing key players to enter the final year of their contract.

But Gundogan’s situation is complicated by the fact that City have been threatened with the prospect of a one-year transfer embargo from Fifa.

The world football governing body is one of four authorities currently investigating City. Fifa’s investigation regards third-party ownership.

City could be prohibited from signing players for two transfer windows, which may expedite a decision on Gundogan’s future.

When asked why he was not jumping at the chance to stay with a team as successful as Guardiola’s City, the midfielder suggested that he is considering his options.

“This is something everyone has to decide for themselves. I am 28 years old now so my next contract will maybe decide where I will be for the end of my career.

“Everyone feels different. Maybe someone has an inner feeling in his self to go for a new challenge or to change something.

“If you see on my [curriculum] vitae you can read that I am always open-minded for challenges but it is a personal situation.

“This is something that is not obvious. Everyone has to make his own decision.

“At the moment I try to play as good as possible and I guess after the season we are going to sit and we are going to talk again.

“My main target at the moment is to go for all the competitions and to be successful.”