Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has suggested that he would prefer to remain at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Earlier this month, it was claimed that the Germany international could be allowed to depart the club having not always found himself in the starting lineup during 2022-23.

Gundogan made a total of 32 starts and 11 substitute appearances in all competitions, the 31-year-old scoring two crucial goals on the final day of the season against Aston Villa to help City win the Premier League title.

Despite speculation regarding a potential exit, Gundogan has indicated that he would regard departing City at this stage of their development as a downgrade.

Speaking to Kicker, he said: "We will sit down together in due course and exchange our ideas and plans, and then we will see what comes out of it.

"Football-wise, there is certainly still no better address than Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, and I think that will hardly change in the next few years.

"Of course, I would have liked to play a little longer in one or two important games over the last few months. That's not a secret. I am a player who always wants to play."

Guardiola has previously insisted that he wants to retain the services of Gundogan, who has been at City since 2016. body check tags ::