De Telegraaf delivered the world a huge exclusive yesterday when they printed photographs and information of a ‘secret’ meeting between Txiki Begiristain and Pep Guardiola.
The plot thickens today with information on another photograph, this one of Txiki speaking with Ilhan Gündoğan, uncle and representative of İlkay Gündoğan, at the Conservatoriumhotel in Amsterdam on Monday.
Gündoğan has been persistently linked with City and earlier on we had a story from Italy that a £27m deal for the Borussia Dortmund midfielder could be very close.
The photograph of Txiki meeting with Gündoğan’s uncle will fuel speculation that the 25-year-old is set to follow Pep from the Bundesliga to the Etihad this summer. There is tangible evidence that something is happening, but it remains only speculation unless De Telegraaf bugged the room (don’t rule that out — that could be tomorrow’s exclusive!). However you view it, Txiki, Pep and Ilhan Gündoğan meeting in the same place, on the same day, in a country where none of them are based, doesn’t look like a coincidence.
BILD tonight also printed information that Gündoğan is wanted by Pep as part of a new-look City midfield next season, with Dortmund seeking clarification on his future by April. With his contract due to expire in 2017, Dortmund must renew it this summer or cash in.
Pep wants İlkay Gündoğan in his City midfield next season, and made that clear to Txiki in Amsterdam. [BILD] pic.twitter.com/hBrHMDYrEJ
— City Watch (@City_Watch) March 8, 2016
Pep loves a pass master, so we’ll end this story with a tasty Gündoğan stat.
Most completed passes in the Bundesliga this season:
I. Gündoğan (1613)
J. Weigl (1582)
D. Alaba (1557)
X. Alonso (1511)
A. Vidal (1427)— Squawka Football (@Squawka) March 5, 2016
