Determined to ward off Madrid, City open contract talk with Haaland
The 22-year-old enjoys the physicality of the Premier League and, although he has designs on playing in Spain in the future, for now he is happy at City.
Norway star Erling Haaland is ready to discuss a contract extension with Manchester City, who are keen to offer the free-scoring Norwegian striker a new and improved deal after his excellent first season at the club.
In a further boost to City it has emerged that a release clause that was written into his present contract has been withdrawn.
The clause would have allowed Haaland to leave the club for a fee of £175 million but it was removed because Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension as manager in November.
It is common practice for City to offer new players an extended contract in their first season if they perform well. Haaland’s present deal, worth about £400,000 a week plus bonuses and signed only ten months ago, is due to expire in the summer of 2027, but City have been impressed by the forward, who has scored 47 goals in 40 matches since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in a £51 million deal.
Haaland is the favourite to win the PFA Player of the Year award. Thanks partly to his efforts, City are chasing the Treble.
They are second in the Premier League, four points shy of leaders Arsenal with a match in hand, and they are still in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Haaland has been delighted with how he has been treated by the club since he joined and he is open to discussing an extension.
The 22-year-old enjoys the physicality of the Premier League and, although he has designs on playing in Spain in the future, for now he is happy at City.
Guardiola has been impressed by his impact. “He is a gift to all of us,” the City manager said of Haaland after he scored five goals in the 7-0 win over RB Leipzig last month.
“He is a huge competitor; his mentality is there. I said many times, he’s a joyful guy. His mood in the locker room is always happiness.”
