Arsenal are set to enter a battle with Manchester United to sign want-away Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, according to reports in The Telegraph.
SEE ALSO:
Arsenal ban player’s mum for assaulting club negotiator
Gregory Mertens dies: Liverpool and Manchester United stars lead tributes
Manchester United transfer target: Barcelona official rules out deal
The German side revealed via the club’s official Twitter account that the player would not be extending his deal which expires at the end of the next season and it appears Dortmund will look to cash in on the influential playmaker in the summer.
Borussia Dortmund und Mittelfeldspieler @Guendogan8 werden nicht über den 30. Juni 2016 hinaus zusammenarbeiten. pic.twitter.com/ONvIdZesCf
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) April 30, 2015
Arsene Wenger has been tipped to add to his midfield options at the end of the season and Gundogan is likely to be seen as the ideal replacement for captain Mikel Arteta, who is yet to agree a new deal at the club following an injury-hit campaign.
With the unexpected emergence of Francis Coquelin in the role just in front of the back four since the turn of the year, the North London outfit are on the market for a creative box-to-box midfielder in order to compliment the Frenchman and Gundogan fits the bill.
However, the Gunners are likely to face strong competition from Premier League rivals United to sign the 24-year-old after it was reported last week that the Red Devils were close to tying up a deal for the player, although those rumours were swiftly dismissed by Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc.