Ilkay Gundogan powering Man City’s title charge after Sir Alex Ferguson mistake

Manchester City's relentless Premier League title bid is being driven by a player their local rivals should have signed.

It says everything about Ilkay Gundogan's talent and standing that Sir Alex Ferguson was urged to snap him up for Manchester United before stepping down.

As Ferguson's glittering United reign was coming to a close, his coaching staff recommended Gundogan as the ideal replacement for Paul Scholes, who was also retiring.

“We were looking at Gundogan,” recalled former United coach Renee Muelensteen. “Someone similar to Scholes, who could keep ticking the ball over, thinks quick and has tempo.”

But United failed to land Gundogan, who instead became Pep Guardiola's first signing for Manchester City in 2016, moving from Borussia Dortmund for £20million – a fee which now looks a steal.

United's loss was City's gain, with Gundogan underlining his enduring value to the Blues on Tuesday with a brace in the 5-0 win at West Brom, which took his goal tally to nine this season.

Gundogan is City's joint top scorer, with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, his clever midfield link-up play now supplemented by a goal threat that has seen him score six in as many league games.

The 30-year-old has always been an important, if underrated, member of City's squad, his quietly effective style often overshadowed by the more celebrated exploits of others around him, like Kevin De Bruyne.

But with De Bruyne now sidelined for several weeks through injury, Gundogan's influence is needed even more by City and the softly-spoken playmaker has stepped up when needed.

His pressing, passing range and ability to link midfield and attack make him one of Guardiola's most effective and reliable players, his consistency of performance making him undroppable.

After Gundogan's latest match-winning display, which saw him withdrawn after 50 minutes with City leading 4-0, Guardiola paid tribute to him, but denied he had improved in recent weeks.

“I would say improvement is not the case,” said Guardiola. “Always, he showed this level, apart from his first season, when he was injured. Every time he plays he plays at a high level.

It doesn't matter where he goes, in the FA Cup third round or the Champions League latter stages, he always plays the same. He's always confident. He's a nice guy.”

Gundogan's exploits led to team-mate Aymeric Laporte comparing him with Yaya Toure, City's legendary former midfielder, who plundered 24 goals in the 2013-14 title-winning season.

But Gundogan reacted with typical modesty, replying to Laporte on Twitter, saying: “Thanks for the comparison bro! But we all know Uncle Yaya's qualities stay unmatched.”

Gundogan may not match Toure's 20-plus goal haul, but he has become as influential for Guardiola as the former Ivory Coast international was for Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini.

Other City players may have bigger profiles, larger social media followings and garner more plaudits, but Gundogan is the man driving their title bid and making a case to be their player of the season.

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