It goes without saying that perhaps any club in England would love to sign the likes of Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri.
The Manchester City trio are arguably the three best players in the world.
While De Bruyne is 33, Haaland, 24 and Rodri, 28 still have plenty of time left in their careers.
However, there are several other players at the Etihad Stadium — who would instantly improve most, if not all sides in the Premier League.
But Pep Guardiola’s side had the know-how of signing such players.
As a result, City do not have the holes in their squad all the other teams do in the English top-flight.
Allardyce makes Ilkay Gundogan claim about Arsenal
But clubs’ ears would likely perk up if any of their players were available to sign.
Hindsight has been an indicator about several of the Sky Blues’ signings turning out to be top-class players.
Ilkay Gundogan, 33, is another player for whom age does not seem to be a factor, considering Manchester City seemingly pounced at the chance to sign him for free this summer.
Fabrizio Romano revealed Pep Guardiola immediately tried to contact Gundogan when he heard Barcelona were looking to sell him.
Haaland labelled Gundogan as an “amazing footballer” and expressed his delight at his return to the club.
Sam Allardyce, who was on the club’s official live show on YouTube claimed initially claimed that Gundogan remains a player worth £50 million.
“Well, the thing is he’s still worth £50 million, irrespective of his age. In my opinion because you spend £50 million on him and they’ve got him for nothing, it looks like you can still get two or three years out of him.”
“What he would give to the team and the extra zip in the midfield and goals and assists would be worth anybody’s £50 million. Particularly at the prices that are going around today.”
Sam Allardyce also questioned why neither of Arsenal, Manchester United or Chelsea tried to sign Gundogan this summer.
“He probably wouldn’t have come back [to the Premier League] to anybody else, though. Man City would’ve been the only place he came back to.”
“Let’s say there’s a clause in the contract that he’d had to come back to them if he came back to the Premier League, which might have been the case. Why another club didn’t jump in like a Man United or a Chelsea or an Arsenal beyond me.”
Ilkay Gundogan seemed destined for Man City return
With Gundogan being a Manchester City legend, if he had to make a return to the Premier League, it would have come as a shock if he went elsewhere.
Especially Arsenal, as the German’s arrival would have strengthened City’s title rivals.
Such a move would have been rather controversial.
But Gundogan seemed destined for a return to Manchester City after his time was up at Barcelona and upon him re-signing for the club, he has already made two appearances.
Considering the treble-winning captain has already achieved every possible goal in England, for him to even join Chelsea would have been a strange move when he could rekindle his romance with City.
As for Manchester United, it goes without saying that Gundogan would have ruled out a move to Manchester City’s biggest rivals in the Premier League.
