Liverpool FC have just made Man City's Ilkay Gundogan task even more important

Manchester City’s list of possible Ilkay Gundogan replacements is getting smaller and smaller in the transfer window.

It didn’t need a goal after 12 seconds and an FA Cup-winning brace to show how important Ilkay Gundogan is to Manchester City but it didn’t half make the prospect of losing him even scarier.

Gundogan has been at City since the very beginning of the Pep Guardiola revolution and after years of playing a supporting role to the headline-grabbing stars of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and even Vincent Kompany, he has truly taken centre stage over the last 12 months. It’s fitting that the man who epitomises the Blues boss’ footballing ideal more than any other is the one who has repeatedly been the difference when it matters most.

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There were some raised eyebrows when Gundogan was voted as captain by his teammates last year upon Fernandinho’s departure, as he beat the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Ruben Dias to the armband. After now lifting two trophies he personally clinched and being on the cusp of a third, City fans are begging him to continue doing so into next season.

It didn’t need a goal after 12 seconds and an FA Cup-winning brace to show how important Ilkay Gundogan is to Manchester City but it didn’t half make the prospect of losing him even scarier.

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There’s a real risk he won’t. City have made a habit of tactfully but efficiently moving on legends when they have passed their peaks instead of falling into the sentiment trap. Fernandinho, Aguero, Silva, Kompany, Yaya Toure, Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta have all moved on over the last six summers but this time the club doesn’t want to lose a player so integral to their success.

Gundogan is now 32 but he’s playing better than ever. Which is saying something. The German is Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenant on the field and is always relied upon in the biggest games.

City fans want a statue let alone a new contract and Guardiola, of course, is desperate for him to stay. “He knows what I think,” Guardiola said after the FA Cup triumph.

“Maybe some of you know it, we are neighbours, we live on the same floor so for many years he is a close friend of mine. He plays exceptional. Hopefully we can finish in a good way. [Director of football] Txiki [Begiristain] is working [on the contract]. The season he has done is exceptional.”

It’s clear enough how important it is for City to keep hold of their leader but the fact the pool of possible replacements is shrinking with every passing week makes it even more so. You’d be hard-pressed to find a player on the planet who could fill the void Gundogan would leave, but there are some players who have shown the qualities needed to take up his role.

The best of all, of course, would be Jude Bellingham. The Borussia Dortmund prodigy is still just 19 but is already one of the best players on the planet and has all the creative, physical and temperamental skills required to shine at City and that’s before being coached by Guardiola.

But it looks like City have been beaten to the punch by Real Madrid. You can’t win them all.

Another player who has enjoyed a sensational campaign is Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister. His composure and elegance in the middle of the park have helped fire the Seagulls to a European place and an FA Cup semi-final, not to mention his pivotal role in helping Argentina win the World Cup.

Yet, he too now looks accounted for as Liverpool have swooped in to sign the 24-year-old for what is reportedly a bargain price of less than £45million. Getting a player of such quality – from Brighton, who squeezed more than £60million out of Marc Cucurella, no less – is a superb piece of business which suggests Jurgen Klopp’s team could be about to roar back into contention.

There’s no suggestion City were in the hunt for Mac Allister and have missed out on him to their rivals, but should Gundogan leave then that is one more player who has the skills needed to take up his mantle already off the market. Considering City could do with another midfielder even if Gundogan does stay, their options are looking limited

He was integral in the 2019 title win as he filled in the holding role for an injured Fernandinho and now he is repeatedly grabbing match-winning goals. Wembley. Braces against Leeds and Everton to secure this year’s title. The two goals on the final day of 2022

want a statue let alone a new contract and Guardiola, of course, is desperate for him to stay. “He knows what I think,” Guardiola said after the FA Cup triumph.

But it looks like City have been beaten to the punch by Real Madrid. You can’t win them all.

Mateo Kovacic has been touted and while he does have the technical qualities to slide into the team, at 29 he doesn’t solve the other problem of the Blues’ ageing midfield. Rodri is the youngest of City’s first-team midfielders and he turns 27 this month.

With obvious replacements running dry, it’s now even more important that City keep a tight hold of Gundogan.