(Credit: Imago)

Callum O'Connell

Mon 9 March 2026 13:23, UK

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Manchester City are planning to open talks with Phil Foden over the offer of a new contract despite concerns about his recent performances.

The 25-year-old has started just two of the last six Premier League games under Pep Guardiola and doubts are growing about his long-term role in the side.

However, he will have just one year remaining on his contract this summer with his current deal set to expire in 2027, and City are keen to extend his terms.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that City are keen to protect Foden’s value regardless of their doubts about his recent form.

There does remain a chance he could be allowed to leave the Etihad, even if he signs a new deal, as Man City accelerate their summer transfer plans.

Phil Foden likely to sign new Man City contract

Football Insider first revealed back in November that Foden is happy at Man City and is edging closer to signing a new deal to extend his time at the club.

More recently, his inconsistent performances have led to doubts about his role under Guardiola, but City remain keen for him to commit his future to the club.

“Man City want to give Phil Foden a new contract,” Brown told Football Insider.

“Ultimately it’s a decision they’ll make because they want to protect his transfer value, even if there are concerns about his performances recently.

“It’s difficult in football, you want players to be on long contracts so that you don’t lose them for free, especially not players like Phil Foden.

“But there are concerns about the way he’s been playing, he can’t seem to nail down a place in the side and I think that will be a worry for Guardiola.

“It’s alarming how such a good technical player can have such highs and lows in his performances, he can’t seem to put together a consistent run of performances.

“If you didn’t know anything about Phil Foden, and somebody asked you to go and watch him from a scouting perspective, you’d wonder what all the fuss was about.

“He’s obviously a very talented player, on other days he can manipulate the ball in tight spaces like nobody else can do in England, but it’s not all the time.

“So I think Man City will want to commit his future and all of that sort of thing, but it doesn’t mean they’re happy with his performances, because they’ve been below par.”

Pep Guardiola exit news emerges at the Etihad

Foden is not the only big name at City whose contract is out of contract in 2027, with Guardiola also edging closer to an exit in just over one year’s time.

Brown previously told Football Insider that Guardiola is unhappy at Man City and could even quit before his contract expires amid growing doubts about his future.

However, the boss appeared to hint that he will see out his stay at City as he insisted his side will show improvements next season after what has been a difficult term.

City remain in the running for success this season as they are still in the FA Cup and Champions League, despite dropping behind Arsenal in the Premier League.

It has been an uncharacteristically inconsistent season at the Etihad, but they have made clear improvements in recent weeks and things are looking up.