Man City have Erling Haaland issue to resolve as club eye bumper new contract

Manchester City are growing increasingly confident that Erling Haaland will sign a new lucrative contract, according to reports.

The club is in ongoing discussions with the 24-year-old Norwegian striker over a significantly improved contract extension, which could see him earning a staggering £500,000 per week.

This salary would make Haaland the highest-paid player in the Premier League, surpassing the £400,000 earned by his City team-mate Kevin De Bruyne.

It would also place him among the top earners in European football, with Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong currently leading the list on around £600k.

Per the Daily Mirror, during recent negotiations in Norway with Haaland’s family and Brazilian super-agent Rafaela Pimenta, the City management received a positive response to the proposed package.

In addition to the substantial wage increase, an additional two years have been offered on his current agreement.

The former Borussia Dortmund star has two-and-a-half seasons left on the £375k-a-week deal he signed upon his £60m arrival in July 2022. The new terms would keep him at the Etihad until the end of the 2028-29 season.

However, one issue remains unresolved – Haaland’s existing £150m release clause. City wants this removed moving forward, but Haaland’s advisors insist it stays.

A potential compromise could be to increase the transfer trigger to £200m, reflecting his rising market value. Haaland is currently considered the best goalscorer globally as he continues to break records with Pep Guardiola’s dominant team.

The former Molde and RB Salzburg striker, who is set to lead Norway’s attack against Kazakhstan in the Nations League today, has an impressive record of 105 goals in 113 appearances for City – with 75 of those scored in 77 league matches.

During his stint in England, he has clinched back-to-back Premier League titles, as well as a treble in his debut season.

Despite City’s recent downturn – they are experiencing a four-game losing streak for the first time under Guardiola – the two-time Golden Boot winner is content and settled in Manchester, with plans to extend his stay.