‘Rodri set to become highest-paid Man City player with Erling Haaland’
Rodri will become the highest-paid player at Man City alongside Erling Haaland should he put pen to paper on the offer of a new contract.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson explained that Pep Guardiola’s side are keen to recognise the 29-year-old’s importance to the club with a mega new deal.
Haaland is believed to earn £525,000 per week [via GOAL], outranking Mohamed Salah, who signed a £400,000-per-week deal in April, as the Premier League’s biggest earner.
Meanwhile, Robinson told Football Insider on 8 August that City are doing everything to agree Rodri’s contract extension amid interest from Real Madrid.
Xabi Alonso’s side are believed to be keen on bringing the Spaniard back to his homeland, but Pep Guardiola has no intention of letting his star man leave.
Football Insider exclusively revealed in April that City plan to offer Rodri a new deal to deter interest from Real Madrid after struggling to feel the gap he left in the side.
Man City pushing to agree new Rodri contract
This article contains exclusive comment from Paul Robinson, a football pundit and former England, Tottenham and Leeds goalkeeper.
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Man City are pushing to agree terms with Rodri with talks expected to be a formality.
The midfielder is believed to be happy at the Etihad and is keen to extend his stay beyond his current deal’s expiry date of June 2027.
Robinson explained that the Spaniard’s importance to the team cannot be overstated and City could now move to make him their highest-paid player.
“From Man City’s point of view, you give him everything he wants,” he told Football Insider.
“You can see how important he is, we always talk about what a kingpin he is in that side.
“The start of Man City’s downfall last season was the loss of Rodri, and him coming back now is going to be like a new signing for them.
“They’ve had a good window with the quality they’ve brought in, but I think Rodri will be the best signing they’ll make if they can tie him down to a long-term contract.
“Only he will know where he wants to be where he sees his future, but from City’s point of view, give him whatever he wants.
“He’s their most important player, Erling Haaland gets them bags full of goals, he’s a key player to them, but as far as salaries go Rodri has to be up there.
“He’ll be their best-paid player, if there’s anybody better-paid than him, he has to go to that level.
“You do everything you can to keep hold of Rodri, he’s that important to Man City.”
Pep Guardiola makes Ilkay Gundogan exit decision
Alongside their ambitions of keeping Rodri, City are also planning to keep another senior player at the club in Ilkay Gundogan, despite ongoing speculation.
Football Insider revealed on 9 August that Guardiola wants to keep Gundogan as a key part of his squad with his experience and leadership qualities.
With just one year remaining on his deal, there is a growing possibility the Germany international could stay for one more year before leaving for free.
That is despite Brown telling Football Insider on 19 June that Galatasaray are plotting a move to sign Gundogan as part of their big-spending transfer window.
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