• Txiki Begiristain met player’s agent and uncle, Ilhan, in Amsterdam • Dortmund coach keen to keep Gündogan but admits player may go

Manchester City have stepped up their attempt to make Ilkay Gündogan one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings, with Txiki Begiristain meeting the Borussia Dortmund midfielder’s agent at Amsterdam’s Conservatorium Hotel.

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Guardiola will take over from Manuel Pellegrini at City on 1 July when he leaves his position at Bayern. Gündogan signed a fresh two-year deal last summer so at the close of the season will have only 12 months on his contract. The 25-year-old joined Dortmund from Nürnberg in 2011, is understood to be valued at about €30m (£23m).

Begiristain was photographed in conversation with Ilhan Gündogan, the midfielder’s representative and uncle, on the same day Guardiola met the City sporting director at the Conservatorium. Begiristain spoke to Gündogan’s agent for around 45 minutes, according to the German newspaper Bild.

Dortmund are in contract talks with Gündogan but there is no sign of a breakthrough and the coach, Thomas Tuchel, admitted the club may not be able to hold on to the player, much as they would like to keep him.

Tuchel was asked whether he was disappointed by the photographs of the meeting and whether he was convinced Gündogan would stay. “I’m not disappointed and I’m not convinced,” he said.

“I do not understand the excitement about all of this. We are all looking forward to next season, we are planning and we speak to advisers; it’s part of the everyday job we do. Am I convinced that he will stay? I don’t really know. I know what we can offer him and if that’s enough for him to stay then so be it.

“He knows why he is here, what he’s doing, what is his position, and how he can develop even further and progress with Dortmund.”

City’s move for Gündogan, who can operate in a number midfield roles, puts Yaya Touré’s future at the club in doubt. The Ivorian is one of a raft of players unsure whether they will remain at the club under Guardiola.

The Spaniard also needs to address the issues a centre-back. The £42m signing Eliaquim Mangala, 25, and the 28-year-old Nicolás Otamendi, who cost £32m, have not convinced in the position. Martín Demichelis is 35 and may well depart, and Vincent Kompany, the 29-year-old captain, is hoping to put his calf problems behind him.

If Gündogan joins City he will continue the club’s quest to drive down the average age of the squad. Last summer Kevin De Bruyne, who is 24, Raheem Sterling, 21, and Fabian Delph, 26, signed.

Leroy Sané, the highly rated 19-year-old Schalke forward, is a further target. City would hope to buy the Germany international for less than €40m (£32m).

De Bruyne, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, has started kicking a ball again and is expected to begin training with the squad towards the end of the month.