Manchester City ready contract offer for star player amid Real Madrid and Barcelona interest: Reports

Manchester City have reportedly prepared a hefty contract offer for Erling Haaland, who has lately drawn interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

According to Mirror, Manchester City are confident that the Norwegian star will sign a new deal worth a whopping £500,000-a-week. They have held positive talks with the forward's family and agent Rafaela Pimenta over a possible two-year extension on his current contract.

Haaland, whose current contract will expire in June 2027, is on a £375,000-a-week deal now. The 24-year-old also has a £150 million release clause in his deal and a new deal could see the amount rise to £200 million.

The Real Madrid and Barcelona-linked superstar has opened the ongoing 2024-25 season on a great note. He has bagged 15 goals in just 16 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City so far this term.

Overall, Haaland has registered a staggering 105 goals and 14 assists in 114 total games for his club since departing Borussia Dortmund in 2022.

Ex-Manchester United star asserts 20-year-old could force move to Real Madrid or Barcelona

Speaking to the Football's Greatest podcast, former Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt claimed that Alejandro Garnacho could opt to leave for the La Liga. He said (h/t Metro):

"The Premier League is the best league in the world but all the best players always leave and go to Spain, go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. If you look at all the superstars, they never stay in the Premier League. They stay until they need to go to the next level."

Butt, who represented the Red Devils 385 times as a player, continued:

"A lot of the players see the next level as being Madrid or Barca but we don't see anywhere bigger than United. Our mentality is if you leave United, you're going down. You don't get appreciated here like you do at Madrid. You can guarantee Kylian Mbappe will be in the running for the Ballon d'Or next year because he's at Madrid."

Offering more thoughts on the Manchester United winger, Butt added:

"It's like Garnacho, he's doing well here now, he's a young Argentinian boy. If he keeps [on producing good performances], you can imagine him wanting to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. Players become superstars there, not only on the football pitch."

Garnacho, 20, has found the back of the net 22 times and contributed 14 assists in 104 appearances across all competitions for his current club.

The right-footed Argentine star joined Manchester United from La Liga side Atletico Madrid for a sum of close to £400,000 in October 2020.