Ilkay Gündogan's days at Barcelona seem numbered. His departure from the club is a matter of time, and it appears that his destination is once again Manchester.

After Hansi Flick told him he doesn't see him playing a key role in the team and with Barcelona encouraging him to leave to save on his salary ($22 million gross), the midfielder won't pose any obstacles and is already looking for a way out.

One of the destinations that most appeals to him is Manchester City, where he spent seven seasons before leaving to fulfill his dream of playing for Barcelona.

According to Spain's Cadena Ser, Gündogan personally called Pep Guardiola to express his desire to return to the Cityzens.

Guardiola's response: he would be delighted to have him back under his management. In fact, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Spanish coach has given the club the green light for his return.

Negotiations Underway

Negotiations are already in progress. Gündogan's agent is in talks with Man City to finalize his return to the Etihad, something that shouldn't take long given the willingness of all parties involved.

Even though Gündogan still has a year left on his contract, Barcelona would likely grant him a free transfer, allowing City to avoid paying a transfer fee, which would expedite the process.

It's worth noting that Manchester City isn't Gündogan's only option. He has offers from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and Turkey's Galatasaray is also very interested in signing him.