I can see the Gundogan move happening. It hasn't truly clicked for him. And this Pep team seems to rely more on mobile midfielders than Bayern or Barca.
Plus, The God Fernandinho (We Praise Him As He Delivers Us Our Balanced Midfield) is really, really..... old. He doesn't have an understudy, apart from Gundogan. Which isn't ideal.
Gundogan is not a good DM for this team, in this league. Not with the two attacking midfielders. That may have been the idea, what with the false fullback tactic, but I just don't see it as an option - probably not in certain CL games, either. Especially not if they are very hard pressers who swamp the midfield.
And he is currently bettered in either of the forward midfield roles by Bernado.
The way I see it, Mahrez joining means Bernado is freed from playing as a forward. Bernado is now all-but-officially prefered to Gundogan slot as rotation for KDB and Silva (D). Foden's claim on first team action is becoming urgent. His best chance is as understudy to Silva (D). Who is at the end of his career.
So what is the point in keeping Gundogan, a player at the height of his career, who;
>Is so not suitable as a replacement for the current DM (who is at the end of his career) that we are buying a replacement urgently.
>Is being comprehensively outgunned as rotation for either forward by a player - bought as a winger - who is developing rapidly.
Keep him as rotation? No. Get him out of Foden's path. Buy one young DM/CM as replacement for Fernandinho, and you will still need a second to cover HIM as soon as Fernandinho (All Praise etc...) starts to slow up, which could happen very quickly.
This story seems to demonstrate that Gundogan may be most valuable as the kind of elite talent who doesn't quite fit, and so can be used to turn another club's head. Foden is even more desirable, but they can all F*** OFF.
So Gundogan stays or goes. We will need two central players capable of playing in Fernandinho's role within two years. Why not in the next two windows?
