World Class But Injury Prone, Will Ilkay Gundogan Flop In Manchester City?

By Ewah Chika.

Manchester City nearly lost out on a Champions League place with inconsistency trailing the Citizens. Man City conceeded so many goals and thus lost ground in the title chase. This is why it wasn't shocking that City were linked with nearly every top central midfielder in the world as the likes of Yaya Toure, Fernando and Fernandinho were a shadow of themselves all through last season. At the end City announced the signing of German and Borussia Dortmund defensive/attacking midfielder Ilkay Gundogan for £21 million. This was not the first time the former Nurnberg midfielder was linked with Man City but this was surely the last as he signed a four year contract.

Though rated as one of the best in his position considering his talent and technique, the question is Can Man City cope with the player'a consistent injury woes of recent . Not only was the midfielder on clutches when signed but he was also injured for all of 2013/2014 Bundesliga games except for three due to a persistent back injury which made him miss out on the German team for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014. Gundogan missed a whole a year of football and ever since hasn't recovered fully suffering a succession of injuries including abductor, hamstrings , pelvis , feet, ankles, shins and how dislocated knee which ruled him out again last season until September after which he managed 25 Bundesliga games scoring a lone goal and providing three assists. He also played six Europa League games recording one assist.

Though a first class player who was on top of his game in the 2012/2013 , the Gelsenkirchen born player was the icing of BVB as the won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and reaching the final of the Champions League before losing to Bayern Munich. This was the height of the Turkish born player as he has struggled to regain that form. Gundogan is a player who is good in dribbling , holder of the ball, concentration and loves to tackle , however he will have to improve on his aerial duel and poor tackling to succeed in a team managed by possession obsessed Pep Guardiola.

BVB have made a huge profit on a player who the signed from Nurnberg in 2011 for €4 million and sold for £21 million to Man City. At present he won't be missed in Ruhr as Julian Weigl and Sebastian Rode will seamlessly step into his shoes.

Finally the signing of Gundogan by Man City is considered a foolish one or a Masterstroke by other until the season starts.