PEP GUARDIOLA has agreed in principle an extended deal that will keep him at the Etihad until 2025.
And that will be the final piece in the jigsaw which guarantees Erling Haaland joins Manchester City rather than Real Madrid.
City sources insist that the Spaniard has given the thumbs-up to adding another two years to his current contract, which runs for another 12 months.
The fresh deal is likely to also include an option for another year beyond that, which would take his Etihad reign to a decade.
Guardiola was quizzed about his future again after Liverpool announced Jurgen Klopp extended his own contract until 2026.
He insisted his sole focus was on City’s title defence and Euro commitments — but insiders claim it is a matter of time before the extension is announced.
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Etihad bosses do not believe that winning this term’s Champions League would have an impact on how long he stays.
Guardiola is said to be “impressed and excited” by the youngsters at City — and the possibility of working with Haaland, 21.
And as far as the Norwegian striker is concerned, the only stumbling block to joining City ahead of Real, the one serious rival for his signature, was the manager’s future.
Manchester has always been Haaland’s preferred option but he wanted assurances that Pep would be around for more than just a season if he signed.
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Real felt they could tempt him but Haaland reckons he has a better chance of Euro success and being a Ballon d’Or contender at City.
He also felt Guardiola was key to that — and now the Spaniard has verbally agreed to stay, he will be in a sky blue shirt next season.
Even without Haaland, City’s four-goal triumph at Elland Road, which took them back to the Prem summit, clocked up an 11-0 aggregate score over Leeds this season.
Guardiola said: “It was so important to make our chances to be champions again. We have been many times in this position.
“There’s a lot of tough games to play.
“We now have to recover well and go to Madrid for the Champions League. That’s all.”
