Manchester City want to tie goalscoring defender Josko Gvardiol down to a new contract, according to a report.
The Croatia international established a reputation as one of the most highly-rated defenders on the planet during his time at RB Leipzig, who sold him to Man City for a world-record fee in the summer of 2023.
Gvardiol commanded a €90m (£74.9m) to leave Die Roten Bullen last year and now has seven goals and three assists in 56 games for Man City, scoring a wonderful leveller in their 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers two weekends ago.
Despite initially earning plaudits for his feats in the heart of defence, Gvardiol has excelled on the left-hand side since arriving at City, an area that was previously problematic for Pep Guardiola after Joao Cancelo fell out of favour.
Gvardiol made his eighth Premier League start of the season against Southampton on Saturday, playing the full 90 as the Citizens edged a nervy battle 1-0, and he is also an undisputed starter for his country.
Gvardiol set for massive pay rise in new City deal?
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Even though the 22-year-old is still contracted to the Premier League champions until the summer of 2028, the Daily Star reports that Etihad chiefs are keen to agree an extension with him as a matter of priority.
Gvardiol is understood to earn around £120,000 a week in Manchester under the terms of his current agreement, but he is now set to receive a pay hike to £150,000 a week, in addition to another two years on his deal until 2030.
City have been persuaded to tie the Croatian down to a new deal on account of his stellar start to life in the Premier League, and his prospective new deal would keep him in Manchester until his 28th birthday.
The 6ft 1in defender memorably hit the goal trail during the latter stages of the 2023-24 campaign, scoring four times in the last seven games of the Premier League season, in addition to providing two assists.
Gvardiol's feats this season have helped City top the Premier League rankings after nine games this season, one point clear of Liverpool following the Reds' 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday.
What other City players are in line for new deals?
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City are yet to agree a new contract with a single player this season - Stefan Ortega was the last to sign on the dotted line in June - but a handful of stars are thought to be in line for lucrative extensions.
At the top of the list is Erling Haaland, who is still on the same terms he penned when he touched down in Manchester in 2022, and speculation over a move to Real Madrid is heating up once more.
Ballon d'Or nominee Rodri is also likely to pen fresh terms in the near future, and the same can be said of Phil Foden, but Kevin De Bruyne's situation remains clouded in uncertainty.
The Belgian is free to discuss pre-contract terms with foreign teams from January 2025 onwards, as his terms expire at the end of the current campaign, and he is said to be leaning towards a move to one particular division.
Ben Knapton
