- Man City want to keep Phil Foden
- Negotiations have begun
- Midfielder out of form in recent months
Manchester City are looking to renew Phil Foden’s contract, despite his underwhelming performances in the second half of this season.
Phil Foden looked the real deal at the back end of last year. In fact, he went on a run of six goals and an assist in four matches.
However, Alan Shearer recently called Foden ‘lost’, and it is hard to argue with the ex-Premier League striker’s assessment.
The 25-year-old has looked out of place in Pep Guardiola’s team, but despite this, recent reports have claimed Man City want to keep Foden.
Man City open talks with Phil Foden
According to Paul Hirst, Man City are still keen on keeping Foden at the Etihad Stadium. Therefore, they have begun preliminary talks to sort out a contract extension.
Senior members of the club board are supportive and protective of the England international, who has spent his entire playing career at City.
Currently, Foden’s existing deal is set to expire next summer, meaning he would be free to negotiate a pre-contract agreement with another team in January.
City’s Foden decision is a strategic move
It is highly likely that Man City’s desire not to lose Foden is legitimate, but it could be that his contract is extended only for a departure a few months down the line.
Should Foden get back to his best, he could be reintegrated back into the first-team starting line-ups.
Nevertheless, if this is not the case, the Citizens could look to sell the attacker for a reasonable price due to his recently lengthened contract.
If City decided not to renew, this would make things more difficult because Foden would likely be sold at a cut-price deal.
So whether he stays for the long-term or leaves sometime next year, getting Foden to recommit his future to the club can only be a good thing.
Will Foden start for City again this season?
It has been a while since Foden was handed a Premier League start, but he did get his turn in the FA Cup against Southampton.
Ultimately, the struggling star wasted his opportunity and was removed by Guardiola before the game had even reached its hour-mark.
City’s only remaining match outside the league this season is the FA Cup final, a fixture Foden has very little chance of starting.
There is always a chance he starts one Premier League game, but it could be that Foden’s only appearances for what remains of the season are cameos off the bench.
