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Arsenal face Ilkay Gundogan transfer twist as Saudi Arabia prepare huge contract offer

Simon Collings
·1 min read
Arsenal face Ilkay Gundogan transfer twist as Saudi Arabia prepare huge contract offer

Arsenal face competition from clubs in Saudi Arabia for Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan, as the Gulf state embarks on a major recruitment drive this summer.

Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is in advanced talks with Al-Ittihad and is set to sign a two-year deal worth a reported £172million (€200m).

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who is also out of contract at the end of this month, is mulling over an offer from Al-Nassr worth £15m-a-year.

Al-Ittihad earlier this week signed Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema on a three-year deal worth a reported £172m-a-year.

N’Golo Kante is another big name set to move to the Gulf state (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
N’Golo Kante is another big name set to move to the Gulf state (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

The moves are part of a wider push by Saudi Arabia to bring players to the country’s top flight.

The country’s Public Investment Fund this week took over three Saudi Pro League clubs (Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal) and second-tier champions Al-Ahli.

Work is now underway to bring some of football’s top stars to the League and Al-Hilal want Lionel Messi, who is out of contract at Paris-Saint Germain.

If that deal goes through, the Saudi Pro League would have the winners of 13 of the last 14 Ballons d’Or playing there.

Gundogan is the latest player to attract interest from Saudi Arabia as he is out of contract this summer.

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The midfielder will make a decision on his future after Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan. City want him to stay, but he is being chased by Arsenal and Barcelona too.