- Dillon Meehan
Manchester City set to hold talks with Julian Alvarez over new deal
Manchester City are set to begin negotiating with Julian Alvarez over a new contract this summer, according to the ever-reliable Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail.
The 22-year-old has only just arrived from River Plate, but after an impressive World Cup winning campaign and 8 goals in 23 appearances for City this season, the defending champions feel he has earned a new deal just a few months into his time at the club.
Alvarez would not be the first Pep signing to get an extension so short into their Manchester City career. Ederson signed an extension in May of 2018 after the centurion season, and Ruben Dias signed an extension in the summer of 2021 after his stellar debut that saw Manchester City reclaim the title and reach the final of the Champions League.
Despite still being under contract until 2027, it’s a smart move to reward a player who has likely garnered attention from all across Europe. And with the continued good form of Erling Haaland, it’s fair to suspect teams in need of a striker to try and pry Alvarez away from Manchester. And after seeing players like Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling see their transfer value plummet due to contract length, City won’t want to take their chances.
However, this show of confidence by Pep and the board, as well as what will likely be a nice pay bump, will send a message to both Alvarez and clubs across Europe of how valuable he is to Manchester City.
The Argentine has only just returned to training from last year’s dramatic World Cup win, but with City still actively competing in three competitions, squad depth will be imperative.
As for the contract status of other City squad members. Scott Carson and Ilkay Gundogan are both set to see their contracts expire at the end of the year. Carson has signed extensions in the past as it appears Pep values his presence at the club. As for Gundogan, the German voted as the club’s captain this season and while his presence has been somewhat diminished this season, he has always served an important role in Manchester City’s title wins.
Written by: @IVIeehan
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