According to reports from The Express, Juventus have dropped out of the race to sign Liverpool and Manchester United target Ilkay Gundogan.
The German international was linked with a move to the Premier League last summer as his Black-Yellows contract entered its final year, but eventually opted to pen fresh terms at Westfalenstadion instead.
But the new deal only extended the midfielder’s stay by twelve months and his long-term future with the Bundesliga title hopefuls remains in serious doubt, as a number of Europe’s top teams continue to eye the highly-rated 25-year-old.
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One club who won’t be swooping for Gundogan during the January transfer window, however, is Serie A champions Juventus.
As quoted by The Express, Juventus chief executive Giuseppe Marotta recently told German publication Bild; “Gundogan is a name we have not mentioned in relation to the winter transfer market. Why should we rely on Gundogan, when we have midfielders such as Claudio Marchisio? We have several options in midfield.”
According to The British newspaper, that leaves Liverpool and Manchester United in pole position to sign the 5 foot 11 centre-mid, who won a Bundesliga title and reached the 2013 Champions League final under Reds boss Jurgen Klopp during their four years together at Dortmund.