Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is set to hold talks with Barcelona this weekend to discuss a potential transfer next year, according to Express.
The 24-year-old Germany international has been tracked by a host of clubs this summer including Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal, but reports in German media claim that the Barcelona are favorite to secure his services.
Gundogan, who had joined Dortmund from FC Nürnberg in 2011 for €4 million, has just 12 months left in his current contract with the club.
The Bundesliga giants have confirmed his pontifical departure from Westfalenstadion this summer.
Barcelona wants to bring Gundogan to Camp Nou as a replacement for Xavi, who left the Spanish club after 17 years last month to sign a three-year deal with Qatari side Al Sadd.
Though La Liga champions are also linked with Monaco’s Geoffrey Kondogbiaa and Juventus’ Paul Pogba, Gundogan appears to be still their top midfield target.
Express reckons that Gundogan’s representatives will meet Barca officials this weekend to strike out personal terms before they officially lodge a bid to Bundesliga club.
The Catalan giants, however, will have to wait until January 2016 to sign the defender because of the FIFA imposed transfer ban.
