Manchester City defender to be given captaincy assurances as 2030 contract talks begin

A significant pay rise, assurances over the captain’s armband, and a new deal until the turn of the decade are among talks being held by Manchester City with one player.

It is the latest in a long line of contingency plans being put in place by the Etihad Stadium hierarchy to ensure that the club’s success endured over the course of the last decade remains beyond the tenure of Pep Guardiola.

Manchester City officials not only have their eye on bringing in the next wealth of talent into the Etihad Stadium squad, but also hold plans to retain their existing stars through new and improved contracts as rewards for their past efforts.

Amongst those being earmarked for new deals are the likes of Ederson and Erling Haaland, with the former having attracted strong interest from Saudi Arabia this summer. There are also likely to be conversations with Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri in the coming weeks.

But the latest to be at the centre of media reports surrounding his own contractual situation is Ruben Dias, who is currently on a streak of Premier League-winning seasons since first joining the club from SL Benfica in 2020.

According to the information of Football Transfers’ Steve Kay, Manchester City are ‘keen’ to tie Ruben Dias down to a new contract until the summer of 2030, with talks currently ongoing between the relevant parties.

Among those conversations, the report reveals that the Portugal international is to be given ‘assurances’ of captaining the Manchester City side in the future, while also receiving a ‘handsome’ pay rise.

The 27-year-old’s weekly salary is reportedly set to increase from £180,000-per-week to £220,000-per-week, which would bring him in line with defensive midfield mainstay Rodrigo; who is also likely to be at the centre of a proposal regarding improved terms.

From the side of Manchester City, Ruben Dias is said to be considered as a ‘vitally important piece of the team’ and one that they want to retain beyond Pep Guardiola’s stay at the club. With the Portugal man’s currently deal running until 2027, there is certainly no rush, however.

Given Dias’ leadership qualities and reading of the game in defence, Manchester City are likely to have a figure that can lead the club forward beyond Pep Guardiola’s career at the Etihad Stadium, and retain a sense of calm in the rearguard.

There remains an element of concern that the coming seasons could see a few changes in defence for Manchester City, with the likes of Kyle Walker and John Stones at the centre of quiet uncertainty over their respective futures.

The latter is no doubt more stable in his Manchester City career than the club’s captain, largely due to their age difference, however the upcoming season will no doubt be a crucial campaign for Stones to recapture his form and secure consistent minutes through fitness.