Not Caicedo nor Declan Rice — ‘PHENOMENAL’ Premier League midfielder rejects Arsenal’s ‘powerful’ offer, he’s agreed to join another club.

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Arsenal’s pursuit of Ilkay Gundogan has hit a roadblock as the German midfielder has reportedly agreed to join Barcelona instead of the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta’s side had hoped to bolster their central midfield options this summer and close the gap between themselves and Pep Guardiola’s dominant Manchester City team. However, it appears that they will now have to look elsewhere to strengthen their squad.

Gundogan, who joined Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund in 2016, has been a phenomenal player in England, contributing to their five Premier League title triumphs. His performances have earned him a reputation as one of the finest midfielders in both the country and Europe.

With less than a month remaining on his contract, the midfielder’s future has been subject to much speculation, with Manchester City eager to retain his services and Arsenal and Barcelona showing strong interest.

According to Sport, Gundogan’s move to Barcelona is almost finalized. The report suggests that he has agreed to a three-year contract with the Catalan giants, indicating that the deal is in its final stages.

Manchester City reportedly made a last-ditch effort to keep him, while Arsenal also presented a substantial financial offer in their bid to convince him to join them at the Emirates. Unfortunately for the Gunners, Gundogan turned down both proposals and has seemingly made up his mind about a move to Spain.

Arsenal’s strategy for the upcoming transfer window revolves around securing at least two new midfielders. With the imminent departure of Granit Xhaka to Bayer Leverkusen, their midfield options have become even more limited.

The Gunners are in dire need of quality reinforcements in the middle of the park, and Gundogan would have been an ideal addition to their squad. Boasting exceptional skills and a wealth of experience, the German midfielder would have seamlessly fit into Arteta’s tactical system.

However, it appears that Arsenal will have to shift their focus and explore other options to fill the void in their midfield. Losing out on Gundogan is undoubtedly a blow to their plans, as they miss out on the opportunity to acquire a player of his caliber. The Gunners will now have to regroup and identify alternative targets to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Ilkay Gundogan has come to a disappointing end, with the German midfielder reportedly opting to join Barcelona instead. While the Gunners had hoped to close the gap with Manchester City through this signing, they will now need to redirect their efforts towards other midfield targets.

The loss of Gundogan deprives them of an exceptional player who could have significantly strengthened their squad. As the transfer window approaches, Arsenal must swiftly adapt and identify alternative options to address their midfield needs.