Manchester City are reportedly growing “increasingly confident” about their chances of securing a contract extension with star striker **Erling Haaland**, amid ongoing speculation about his future. The Norwegian forward, who has been a revelation since joining the Premier League club in the summer of 2021, is expected to sign a new deal with the club that could keep him at the Etihad Stadium for even longer.
City made a huge splash when they paid around £51 million to sign Haaland from **Borussia Dortmund**. The move, which initially raised some eyebrows due to the high transfer fee involved, has undoubtedly been one of the best investments in recent football history. Since his arrival, Haaland has completely transformed the club’s attacking line-up, quickly becoming one of the world’s most prolific strikers.
### Haaland’s Remarkable Impact at Manchester City
In just over two years at **Man City**, Haaland has been in phenomenal form, notching up an impressive 105 goals in 114 appearances across all competitions. His goal-scoring ability has been a major factor in City’s domestic and international success, with Haaland becoming the focal point of Pep Guardiola’s attack. With his combination of physical presence, speed, and clinical finishing, Haaland has already cemented his place as one of the top strikers in the world.
Despite his current contract with Manchester City running until 2027, Haaland’s future has been the subject of constant speculation. There have been numerous reports linking him to some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including **Real Madrid** and **Barcelona**, who would surely love to secure the services of such a highly-rated talent. In addition, Haaland has also been associated with a ‘surprise Plan B,’ with other top clubs allegedly eyeing a potential move for the forward. However, despite the heavy interest from elite clubs, Haaland’s current focus appears to be on continuing his career with Manchester City.
### Haaland’s Contract Talks: A Step Towards Stability
According to **Graeme Bailey**, a well-regarded journalist, Manchester City are confident about reaching an agreement with Haaland over a new contract extension. Bailey claims that the club has been working on these negotiations for over two years, and that both parties are now very close to finalizing a deal. The key issue has always been Haaland’s release clause, which has been a feature of every contract he has ever signed. Bailey notes that **Manchester City** have come to terms with this and are unlikely to remove the clause entirely, but the club hopes to adjust the terms of when the clause would come into effect.
“The issue has always been the release clauses, which are not going to be removed from the contracts in any way, shape or form,” Bailey said. “It’s not going to happen. City have come to terms with that.”
Although the presence of a release clause in Haaland’s new contract may raise questions, the reality is that it is unlikely to affect Manchester City’s plans in the near future. The release clause is expected to be large enough that it will make it difficult for any suitors to meet the required figure. Furthermore, the timing of the clause’s activation will likely be adjusted, with the club hoping to push back the date when it could be triggered.
### The Timing of Haaland’s Release Clause
According to Bailey, City’s strategy is to ensure that Haaland’s release clause is not triggered before **2026**, if he agrees to a new deal in the coming weeks or months. The exact details of the clause remain unclear, but it is understood that this modification would effectively keep the striker at the club for the next few years. City’s management is confident that, even with such a clause, the deal will be beneficial for both Haaland and the club, as the figure would still be substantial enough to ward off any potential suitors.
“City’s hope is that they can be altered in terms of when they come into play,” Bailey revealed. “If he signs a new deal for instance in the next few weeks or months, which City hope, that will, from my understanding, mean it won’t be allowed to be triggered until 2026 rather than 2025.”
The presence of a release clause is not a unique situation for Haaland. In fact, every contract he has ever signed has included a similar clause, which has become a standard feature of his professional career. This clause is intended to ensure that the player’s future is protected, giving him the flexibility to move on if the right opportunity arises, while also allowing clubs to plan for potential exits.
“It’s just the situation that every contract Haaland has ever signed has had release clauses, and that’s not going to change for this one,” Bailey added. “It’s nothing to do with him, or an exit strategy or anything like that, it’s just how they work.”
### Manchester City’s Growing Confidence
The atmosphere surrounding Haaland’s future has shifted in recent months, with Manchester City becoming more and more confident about their chances of securing an extension with the player. The club has reportedly been working hard behind the scenes to ensure Haaland’s long-term commitment, with many believing that the extension will put an end to any speculation about his potential departure.
Bailey notes that City is not only busy with Haaland’s contract negotiations but also with the future of **Pep Guardiola**, whose contract expires in 2025. Guardiola’s future at the club is another key area of focus for Manchester City’s hierarchy, with the club keen to secure his services for the long term as well. However, despite these ongoing discussions, it is clear that the club is optimistic about Haaland’s commitment.
“City, from my understanding, are increasingly confident that he’ll agree,” Bailey added. “Obviously [Ferran] Soriano is very busy with Guardiola as well. They think Haaland will commit to a new deal.”
### The Financial Aspects: Wage Increase and Motivation
It’s no surprise that Haaland’s new deal will come with a substantial wage increase. As one of the most sought-after players in world football, the Norwegian is undoubtedly in a position to negotiate a deal that reflects his market value and influence on the pitch. However, Bailey emphasizes that money is not the main driving force behind Haaland’s decision.
“Obviously, it will involve a huge wage increase for him, but money wasn’t really the issue particularly,” Bailey said. “It will at least extend his stay in the short-term and completely put an end to any talk he may go in the summer.”
For Manchester City, securing Haaland’s long-term future would be a major statement of intent as they look to continue their dominance in both domestic and European football. The club knows that Haaland’s goalscoring abilities are crucial to their success, and keeping him at the heart of their attack will be a priority.
In conclusion, Manchester City’s increasing confidence about securing a contract extension for Erling Haaland highlights the club’s intent to keep one of the world’s top talents for the foreseeable future. While negotiations are still ongoing, the expectation is that an agreement will be reached soon, allowing the striker to continue his remarkable journey at the Etihad. For Haaland, the future looks bright as he remains central to Manchester City’s ambitions, with the club eager to secure his services for the long term.