Manchester City postpone talks with star midfielder over new contract

Premier League champions Manchester City have reportedly postponed contractual negotiations with star playmaker Phil Foden.

The poster boy of City’s academy scheme has enjoyed his most prolific season to date in front of goal, scoring an outstanding 18 goals and providing a further 10 assists in all competitions, and from a range of positions within Pep Guardiola’s line-up.

Operating largely as an attacking midfielder during the latter stages of Kevin De Bruyne’s recovery from hamstring surgery, Foden established himself as a dependable option in the middle of the park, and excelled following the Club World Cup campaign in the Middle-East.

Following his further progression and development within the Manchester City line-up, there has been talk in recent days over a desire from the part of Foden and his representatives to renegotiate terms and seek out improved contractual details alongside an extension.

However, that desire from one side has hit stumbling blocks already according to one report, with Manchester City not entirely committed to the idea of opening up such a conversation midway through a hotly-contested season across all competitions.

That is according to the information of Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, who reports that Manchester City have ‘postponed’ talks with star academy graduate and established line-up mainstay Phil Foden over a new contract until the summer.

The report details that while Foden wants a new agreement to ‘reflect his importance’ in Pep Guardiola’s squad this season, alongside a pay rise that puts him among the ‘top earners’ at the club, discussions are not expected to advance any further until the end of the ongoing season.

Despite the postponed talks, Football Insider report that all parties are ‘confident’ of an agreement being struck by the time discussions are opened and brought to a close again during the off-season.

Manchester City are continuing to focus on a battle across three fronts during the business end of the campaign, as Pep Guardiola and his all-conquering squad target an unprecedented back-to-back Treble.

A Premier League title challenge remains in the balance between three clubs at the summit of the division however, with City competing alongside Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal for English top-flight glory.

The club’s fate in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals will also be revealed on Friday in the showpiece draw that highlights routes to the final at Wembley, while an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Newcastle United awaits on Saturday evening.