A few years ago, Manchester City lost a valuable gem. Jadon Sancho forced his way out of the club so he could get minutes. The departure of the Englishman forced the club to keep a close eye on another prodigious talent in Phil Foden.
The player has grown in leaps and bounds, becoming a mainstay of Manchester City. The young man has proven to be the present and the future of the club. His displays warm the cockles of the heart. Foden has also been able to break into the English national team, which has raised his stock even more.
The player's growth has earned him admiration from several quarters, and with so many money bags around these days, the club is moving to tie Foden's future to the Etihad.
Foden to sign a new contract
Foden's talent is undeniable and will attract talent from across Europe. Clubs like PSG and Newcastle have the financial might to lure him away from the Etihad. To avoid the pressures of fending off intending suitors, Manchester City have handed Foden a new contract. We reported earlier about the likely contract extension. The offer commits his long-term future to the club. It's a six-year contract, according to ESPN.
Foden has had no doubts about where he wants to ply his trade. His focus is to play and win titles with Manchester City. So, the contract offer might be a formality as the young man has had his heart set on the club from a young age.
Earlier in the year, Foden declared that he could only see himself playing at Manchester City - a club he has always supported.
He still has three years left on his current contract, but this new deal will make him a vital cog in Guardiola's big machine. According to sources who revealed to ESPN the news, City will announce the contract once the details are finalised.
Foden's rise in stature
Coming from the club academy, Foden has grown to become an important part of Manchester City. In a star-studded team, the 21-year-old has been able to hold his own. He underlined his importance to the team last season with 50 appearances. He contributed 16 goals to the course, with City winning the Premier League and finishing as losing finalists in the Champions League.
Gareth Southgate could not ignore the young man's stellar performances and handed him a call-up to the England team. Foden was in the squad for EURO 2020, where he missed the team's final loss to Italy through injury. The injury also saw him missing City's first four games of the season.
Foden joins the list of City players to agree to new contracts after Ederson, Dias, Stones and De Bruyne. And his new deal sees him at the club till 2027. Of all the players to have been linked with new contracts, only Raheem Sterling now faces an uncertain future at the Etihad.
By :
Steven D. Thompson
