Man City may soon announce deal that will trump any transfer in title blow to Arsenal

Manchester City are reportedly working on a deal that will be more important than any summer transfer in a blow to Arsenal’s hopes of winning the Premier League title. This season’s race is expected to be another straight fight between the two clubs given the gap in quality between themselves and the rest of the division.

City will become the first team in Premier League history to win five successive titles if Pep Guardiola can guide them to domestic glory yet again. They are reportedly set to boost their hopes of doing just that by offering Rodri a new and improved contract to keep him at the Etihad Stadium.

The defending champions are preparing to double Rodri’s salary in a bid to ensure that he stays for the foreseeable future, according to The Mirror. City are said to view him as their most influential player and will recognise his standing by offering him a basic wage of £375,000 per week.

Rodri’s proposed new deal will put him among City’s highest earners on the same salary as Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne. The move to extend his contract is said to be in response to interest from Real Madrid, who are reportedly eager to bring Rodri to the Bernabeu to replace Toni Kroos.

The midfielder still has three years left on his current deal but recently admitted that some Real Madrid players urged him to join them during Euro 2024. Rodri was named the player of the tournament after helping La Roja to secure continental glory over the summer.

City will also reportedly enter talks with Haaland to negotiate a pay rise, with the Norwegian forward heading into his third season at the Etihad Stadium. However, their top priority is securing Rodri’s long-term future by persuading him to sign another lucrative contract.

Rodri was quizzed on the possibility of leaving City earlier this year but insisted that he was more than happy in his current surroundings. However, he was quick to clarify that he considers Madrid his home with it being known that his family live in the Spanish capital.

“I try to analyse all the decisions I make, to have a criterion and above all, I try to make processes,” he said. “I’m very, very happy in England. I think I’m at one of the best clubs in the world, it’s obvious, and I’m happy. I have a three-year deal and, when the time comes, I will see.

“I’ve said it before with regard to the short term. I don’t like it or it doesn’t make much sense to look at the long term. Spain is my country, Madrid my city, at home. When I went to Manchester, I remember a conversation I had with my parents in which they asked me if I was sure because I was going to another country.”