Latest Manchester City news and opinion as Erling Haaland’s future is discussed and transfer speculation mounts ahead of the summer window opening
Manchester City reportedly want to tie Erling Haaland down to a new contract (Image: Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Manchester City will be looking to improve further in 2024/25 as attention turns towards the summer transfer window.
Pep Guardiola’s side won an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, but the 2023/24 campaign ended on a sour note after losing the FA Cup final to rivals Manchester United. Ever the perfectionist, Guardiola will be keen to ensure his team sweep up more silverware next season after disappointment in the cups.
The summer window for transfers will open on June 14 for all Premier League, EFL and Scottish clubs. Below are the latest media reports from the Etihad…
Haaland contract decision
Our colleagues at the Mirror are reporting that City want to tie Erling Haaland down to a new contract. The striker still has three years left on his current contract.
But a clause in his agreement with City, allowing the Norwegian striker to move to any club outside England willing to pay £175million, kicked in this summer. And the buy-out fee will now drop in each of the remaining three seasons left on his deal.
MEN Sport says: It’s a no-brainer for City to try everything to not only keep Haaland but remove his buyout clause. The problem is that the player may well want a new challenge in the future after winning almost everything he can possibly win at the Etihad.
Real Madrid have been one of the club’s previously talked about and the possibility of him linking up with Kylian Mbappe at the Bernabeu is a frightening prospect for the rest of Europe. However, City remains the best destination for him whilst Guardiola stays in situ and so a new deal would make sense for both parties.
Rodrygo shuts down speculation
Real Madrid star Rodrygo has shut down speculation linking him with a move to Manchester City this summer.
“When they asked me if he was going to continue forever, I said yes, but there is no way to know. I still have a contract,” he said, via AS. “I dream of staying here and I have the certainty that it will be so. If I can continue all my life, that’s how I will, until they don’t want me.”
MEN Sport says: Rodrygo would be a fantastic addition to City’s squad and you can only imagine he would get better under Guardiola. The struggles of Jack Grealish last season have led to questions over whether City may need strengthening out wide and the Brazilian is definitely an upgrade on the Englishman.
However, his heart appears set on a stay in Madrid so it would be pointless for City to pursue a transfer while that’s the case.