said he had no comment on whether he would attend the session

Manchester City are in advanced negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over the transfer of Ilkay Gundogan, although the clubs remain £8.1m (€10m) apart in their valuation of the midfielder. Sky sources understand City have indicated a willingness to pay £28.3m (€35m) for Gundogan, although Dortmund value the player at £36.4m (€45m).Pep Guardiola sees Gundogan, 25, as a key part of his plans when he takes over from Manuel Pellegrini on July 1 and is determined City sign him. What would Gundogan bring? What would Ilkay Gundogan bring to the Premier League? Dortmunds willingness to sell is driven by the fact the player has shown no indication he will commit to a new contract - his current deal expires in the summer of 2017.Despite that, Dortmund chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke and Sporting Director Michael Zorc value the player at £36.4m (€45m).City sources confirmed to Sky Sports News HQ in March that a meeting was held in Amsterdam between the players uncle and agent, Ilhay Gundogan, and City Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain. Pep Guardiola is keen to bring Ilkay Gundogan to Manchester City During that meeting, it is understood personal terms were discussed, and contract terms have since been agreed which would see the player earn £4.8m (€6m) after tax per season, provided the two clubs can agree a transfer fee.Dortmund have offered Gundogan a new contract, but have so far been unable to convince the player to commit his future beyond his current deal.Coach Thomas Tuchel stated last month he is not convinced the player will remain at the club, saying, I know what we can offer him and if that is not enough for him to stay then so be it.Gundogans potential arrival at the Etihad Stadium would help the club lower the average age of their squad, which is understood to a significant consideration amongst the clubs hierarchy. Thomas Tuchel admits Ilkay Gundogans future at Borussia Dortmund is uncertain It would also represent an early victory for City in the summer transfer market, were they to sign one of Europes most highly rated midfielders.Having joined Dortmund from FC Nurnberg in 2011, Gundogan helped Dortmund win the double in his first season at the club.He was a key player in Dortmunds success under Jurgen Klopp and scored in the Champions League final in 2013 as Dortmund lost 2-1 to Bayern Munich.Gundogan is highly rated for his tenacious defensive abilities, tireless energy at the heart of the Dortmund midfield, and also his wide passing range and creativity. Also See: Toure could buy out contract Nasri: Boss right to omit me Henry on Peps possible City XI De Bruyne exclusive Custom Pirates T-shirts . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Wholesale Custom Pirates Shirts . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. http://www.custompiratesjersey.com/ . Jordan Lynch, the all-purpose Heisman Trophy finalist from Northern Illinois, failed to make it into that exclusive club. Willie Stargell Jersey Large . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. Custom Pirates Jerseys .C. -- After a listless first half, the Washington Wizards used a big third quarter run to beat the Charlotte Bobcats Bradley Beal scored 21 points and the Wizards used a 17-0 run in the third quarter to take control of what had been a close game and beat the Bobcats 97-83 on Tuesday night.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- The New York Jets quarterback competition is still wide open -- with no clear-cut winner in sight. Rex Ryan isnt sure whether itll be Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith, and hes in no rush to decide. Its only minicamp, after all, and preseason games are still two months away. And thats when the Jets might get a better idea of wholl be under centre for them in Week 1 against Tampa Bay. Maybe. "Well know when we know," quarterbacks coach David Lee said Wednesday, "but we dont know right now." That about sums it all up when it comes to the quarterbacks -- and its not necessarily a bad thing. Its just that neither Sanchez nor Smith have pulled away yet. Lee said both players have taken turns looking good and then "real good" and then not too good at all. "Theyve done it together and they havent made it easy," said Lee, in his first season with New York. "They wont separate right now, but weve got time." While some would expect Sanchez, going into his fifth season, to be clearly ahead of Smith, a second-round pick out of West Virginia, both players are still learning offensive co-ordinator Marty Mornhinwegs West Coast-style offence. "Well continue to look at both of them, split reps, and as soon as we know, Hey, hes the guy, well let you know," Lee said. "But right now, we dont know." Sanchez has worked extensively on holding onto the ball to limit turnovers, which have plagued him the last two seasons. He had 52 of them -- 26 in each year -- during that period and it has cost the Jets some games. So, Lee has focused on having Sanchez grasp the ball with both hands, leaving his left hand on the ball as he drops back. "Yesterday was the first time he kept two hands on the ball," Lee said, "and thats after nine OTAs and a minicamp." And, thats not all: The Jets run through a "gauntlet" drill during which they try to knock the football loose. Oh, and its called "The Sanchez Drill." "He hates it," Lee said. Through it all, Sanchez still insists he is having his best off-season as a pro, and is feeling increasingly more comfortable working in Mornhinwegs system. "I just love what were doing," Sanchez said. "When youre excited about something like that, when youre coming in hanging on the guys every word, knowing that hes had so much success, knowing that we have the pieces here to put ourselves in a position to have success like that, its exciting. Its exciting stuff. "So, it makes you work that much harder and find a way to just improve on the little things each and every day and keep rolling." Sanchez has made it clear to his coaches that hes taking this competition seriously, and he fully intends to keep his starting job -- even if some media and fans believe his time in New York is nearly up. "I think maybe there was some kind of notion that Id be so upset they would draft a quarterback, that whole deal, that Id just turn it in," Sanchez said. "Thats crazy. Its crazy talk." Smith, meanwhile, is a work-in-progress who has focused on his footwork and accuracy, among other things. "Its been a brand-new world every day," Lee said of Smith. "Just struggling with the basic things, snap count at the line of scrimmage, the delivery at the line of scrimmage could be more consistent, little things are whats really killing him.dddddddddddd. But hes competed well and hes showing a really good arm and he gets better every day, and hes going to hear it all for the second time during training camp, so I expect him to get even better quicker." Smith ran the first-team offence during the second practice of minicamp Wednesday, as the Jets have been rotating the quarterbacks throughout the off-season practices. "I mean, Ive improved, subtle improvements," Smith said. "But you wont know until you actually get some reps in live-game situations. But from the point I was when I got here to the point I am now, I have improved. But theres still a long ways to go. Ryan indicated that the Jets could be open to having Smith run some read-option plays -- despite it not working with Tim Tebow last season -- if Sanchez wins the starting job. "I know what everybodys thinking if we did that, ugh, didnt we try that last year?" Ryan said. "I think certainly thats a possibility. To probably make assumptions now probably isnt the thing to do. Well let this thing pan out and well see." Smith didnt have running plays designed for him at West Virginia, but his athleticism made him a threat to make plays outside the pocket -- something that could translate in the NFL. "Thats a part of my game," he said. "I like to think my game is based within the pocket. I do things within the pocket, but I can use my athletic abilities outside of it. I think thats a part of being an all-around player and I think it helps me a lot." After Thursdays minicamp session, the Jets have no formal practices together until training camp in Cortland, N.Y., at the end of July. Most players say theyll mostly remain close to the facility and continue working out and learning their playbooks. Sanchez will also put together his annual "Jets West" camp with the skill position players on offence at his former high school in Mission Viejo, Calif. Smith said he had no comment on whether he would attend the session, but Sanchez later said that everyones invited -- as they always are. Meanwhile, at least one Jets player had a prediction on who will be the teams starting quarterback when the season starts. "I think (Sanchez) is going to be our guy," said wide receiver Santonio Holmes, recovering from a foot injury that has kept him off the field since early last season. "The coaches brought him back and they kept him on this team for a reason. Hes a great leader and hes got great potential and hes excited about this season upcoming. And, so am I." Notes: RB Mike Goodson did not practice after spending the morning at a court hearing in Morristown to be informed that the drug and weapons case against him is heading to a grand jury. Goodson and a friend were arrested last month after they were found in a car stopped on Interstate 80. Goodson has pleaded not guilty. ... Lee said backup QB Matt Simms, son of former Giants star Phil, has "a cannon for an arm," adding that its the "best arm" of the Jets four quarterbacks on the roster. "If his accuracy was better," Lee said, "hed be thicker in the hunt." ' ' '