MANCHESTER CITY are ready to make Erling Haaland the Premier League’s top earner — and kill off talk of a Real Madrid raid.
Etihad bosses will sit down with the 42-goal striker at the end of the season to discuss a new £500,000-a-week deal.
Haaland is in the first year of a contract that runs until 2027 and City plan to extend that by 12 months.
They are keen to reward him for a sensational first year in England — and KO Real’s hopes of taking the Norwegian, 22, to LaLiga in the near future.
Haaland currently earns a weekly wage of £375k — the Prem’s joint-highest with team-mate Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea — with various additional clauses.
Yet his agent Rafaela Pimenta has fuelled rumours of a switch to Madrid at some stage, claiming Real is the “dream” move for players.
And the Spanish giants are said to have an ‘Operation Haaland’ plan.
Sources close to Haaland insist he is entirely happy in Manchester but City are keen to send a firm ‘hands off’ message.
And they believe a new deal, running to the end of the 2028 season and recognising his incredible debut campaign, will do exactly that.
City beat off Real in triggering his £51.4million release clause from Borussia Dortmund last summer — and his value has since quadrupled.
Haaland demanded a release clause in his initial agreement but sources insist it no longer applies after City boss Pep Guardiola extended his own deal by another two seasons at the start of the year.
The striker is nearing a half-century of goals for City and struck his SIXTH hat-trick of the season in last week’s FA Cup win over Burnley.
City also hope ending any speculation about his future will help convince Dortmund pal Jude Bellingham to join him in Manchester this summer.
It is understood Haaland’s camp have given indications they are keen to hold talks and City are convinced he will follow Julian Alvarez’s lead.
The Argentine World Cup winner was handed a pay hike after adding another season to his deal, despite only joining in January 2022.
Meanwhile, City will demand their money back if Kalvin Phillips leaves the Etihad.
Former club Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle are all interested in the midfielder, who has had a nightmare time since his £42m move from Yorkshire last summer.
The Hammers were KO’d with a January loan inquiry but Phillips has still not started a Prem game after recovering from shoulder surgery.
SOURCE: thesun.co.uk
