What Ilkay Gundogan has said about Liverpool move with Man City contract expiring

Manchester City took a giant step closer to their third successive Premier League title with a convincing victory over Everton on Sunday.

It was billed as a potentially tricky match for Pep Guardiola's side, with Everton fighting against relegation near the bottom of the Premier League.

But it proved to be a comfortable afternoon for the defending champions once Ilkay Gundogan had given them the lead with a superb improvised finish late in the first half.

Erling Haaland added a second for City minutes later before Gundogan bagged his second of the game after the break, a brilliant free-kick which killed any hopes of an Everton comeback.

Gundogan has developed a knack of scoring crucial goals for City at the business end of the season, the German famously scoring twice in last year's dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa on the final day of the campaign.

But there is uncertainty over his club future, with the midfielder out of contract at the Etihad at the end of the season.

Gundogan has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, the new La Liga champions just one of a number of options for the midfielder.

The Athletic claim that a decision on where he will continue his career is yet to be reached and that no agreements have been struck.

It is also claimed that City are open to extending Gundogan's seven-year stay at the Etihad if a compromise can be reached over his contract demands.

Could Gundogan join Liverpool?

There has also speculation over whether Gundogan could move to another Premier League side, with Liverpool touted as one potential option.

Gundogan played under Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp at Borussia Dortmund, winning the Bundesliga title and the German FA Cup in his debut season with the club in 2011-12.

Liverpool are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements and poaching Gundogan on a free transfer would be an astute piece of business, allowing the Merseyside club to spend their transfer funds on other targets.

But Gundogan himself has seemingly confirmed he won't be joining Liverpool this summer.

Speaking to Kicker in November, he said: "I think I can rule out that happening.

"Everyone knows how much I like and appreciate Kloppo.

"But I've been at City for a few years now. And now as City captain to rival Liverpool? No, I can not imagine [it]."

It remains to be seen where Gundogan will end up next season, but it looks unlikely it will be Anfield.

Topics: Football, Premier League, Ilkay Gundogan, Liverpool, Manchester City, Transfers

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan