Gabby Agbonlahor has tipped Man City to "spite" Liverpool and sign Jude Bellingham next summer.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed Bellingham would be the "perfect" replacement for Ilkay Gundogan.
Sources told Football Insider earlier this week (31 October) that City fear Gundogan will snub the offer of a new contract with his current terms set to expire at the end of the season.
The midfielder, who turned 32 last month (24 October), is free to reach a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January.
That could prompt a move for a replacement with Bellingham set to be on the market next summer.
Sources told this site last month (29 October) that Liverpool fear they will be priced out of a move for the 19-year-old.
Borussia Dortmund are prepared to demand a "huge fee" if he shines for England at the World Cup in Qatar.
"Gundogan is 32 so he could be one that Man City look at and think 'You know what, he's done great for us but we can let him go and get Bellingham'," Agbonlahor told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
"They would spite their rivals who want him in Liverpool and they need him themselves so why wouldn't they get him?
"He's going to choose Man City before Liverpool so I could see that happening. He fits perfectly into that Man City midfield.
"Why would you let your rivals go and get the hottest young midfielder in Europe?"
Gundogan has played over 250 times across all competitions for Man City and was Pep Guardiola's first signing in the summer of 2015.
The Germany international was made club captain in the summer following the departure of Fernandinho.
In other news, Man City have set their sights on signing another Bundesliga sensation after a big development this month.