Manchester City could lose Ilkay Gundogan for nothing next summer after the midfielder put contract talks at the Etihad Stadium on hold.
According to Goal , the 28-year-old German midfielder is reluctant to commit the final years of his career to City due to concerns about game time.
Gundogan is reported to be unconvinced that he will remain a regular member of Pep Guardiola 's starting line-up next season.
The Germany international has started 16 Premier League games this term, including seven since the turn of the year, but that has been largely due to the absence of Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne for large spells of the season.
City are in the market for a long-term replacement for Fernandinho at the base of midfield and if they sign one of their targets the competition for places would only increase.
The champions are keen to keep hold of Gundogan and have offered him a new contract. But he will not put pen to paper unless the situation changes.
That could force City to sell him during the summer rather than risk losing the 28-year-old for nothing 12 months later.
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Guardiola has spoken of his desire to retain Gundogan and has said in the past: “If he was 100 per cent [sure] then the deal would have been done. We are still in negotiations."
Meanwhile, Gundogan insisted he was still in talks with City earlier this month as he explained the situation.
He said: "There is no decision yet, otherwise I would have signed or I would have rejected a contract. I would say we are still in talks but I don't feel that there is much pressure.
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"We are still competing in all competitions and want to win every competition we are competing for.
"Obviously one day there has to be a decision but I am very happy at the moment here, especially about the way we play and playing under Pep.
"That is the main thing now. One day there will be a decision."
