English Premier League powerhouse Manchester City is preparing to buy German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan from Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund for €18 million plus other performance-based bonuses, according to recent reports.

The Times reported that City "have opened talks with Borussia Dortmund over Ilkay Gundogan, informing the Bundesliga side that they are prepared to pay €18 million (£13.95 million) with a further €5m (£3.88m) depending on performances".

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It was further noted that Die Borussen has not yet responded to the offer, but it was also said that it is highly likely that the German club will demand "more to persuade them to part with the 25-year-old".

Head coach Thomas Tuchel is also said to be insistent that he wants the 5-foot-11 Gelsenkirchen, Germany native to stay with his squad moving forward.

Speculations abound that Gundogan is set to exit the Signal Iduna Park at the end of the season even as he is still under contract with the team until the year 2017. However, with the impending arrival of Pep Guardiola to the Etihad this summer, rumors are out that the former Barcelona and current Bayern Munich manager champion coach could influence Gundogan to join him there beginning next season.

Caught Offside noted that Guardiola is intending to be busy in the transfer market this summer as the 45-year-old Spanish bench tactician wants "to stamp his mark on the squad" and form his own roster that would fit his tactics, system, and style of play on the pitch.

With that, Gundogan is said to be ideal to Guardiola's style as he "would offer him such an impact given his ability in midfield" in the same way he provides it for Tuchel in Dortmund.

It is not immediately known whether the Borussians will surrender its prized midfielder that easily as other players of the squad are also rumored to be in the crosshairs of other world class clubs during this summer transfer window such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marco Reus, and Matt Hummels.

Tags Football Transfer Rumors, Borussia Dortmund, Ilkay Gundogan, Manchester City, Pep Guardiola