Barcelona appear to have beaten a host of Premier League clubs to the signing of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.
Gundogan’s contract with Dortmund expires next summer and they are expected to cash in on him when the transfer window reopens.
The German international had been tipped to move to Manchester United, while Arsenal and Liverpool have also been credited with an interest, but Barca reportedly have a deal in place.
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Spanish newspaper Sport claims that the European champions are closing in on the 24-year-old and hope to have his arrival confirmed before their upcoming presidential elections.
The La Liga giants are banned from signing players in 2015, but can agree deals and have brought in Sevilla’s Aleix Vidal, although the full-back is unable to play for Barca until January 2016.
Gundogan would also have to wait until next year to make his debut for the Catalan giants, who will apparently consider sending the Turkish-born star back to Dortmund on loan for the first half of the season.
The former Nürnberg midfielder played a pivotal role in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final in 2012-13, but has spent much of the last 18 months sidelined by injury.
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