MANCHESTER CITY are poised to hand Gabriel Jesus a new deal worth £120,000-per-week to block mounting interest from Juventus.
Etihad bosses are confident they can also persuade the £100m-rated forward to extend his current contract – which still has three years left to run.
Italian giants Juventus had been heavily linked to the Manchester City starCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The latter could yet depend on whether the Citizens are successful in overturning the two-year Champions League ban imposed by UEFA for allegedly flouting Financial Fair Play rules.
The Manchester giants have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Guardiola’s side want a quick decision for a variety of reasons, including where some of their biggest star names will stand over their own club futures.
In particular, City are aware Juventus have been making moves behind the scenes towards Jesus.
The Italian champions first attempted to sign the striker when he was back in his homeland playing for Palmeiras.
Boss Pep Guardiola made a personal intervention to persuade the 23-year-old to join him in Manchester, completing a £27m move in January 2017.
Juve officials watched Jesus score the leveller in City’s 2-1 Champions League comeback victory against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu back in late February.
It’s understood Jesus earns a basic salary of around £90,000-per-week and City have a very good relationship with his camp – which improves their chances of extending his deal.
Guardiola is convinced Jesus is now one of the hottest young forward talents in Europe – with record veteran goalscorer Sergio Aguero’s own contract due to expire next year.
Jesus has bagged 18 goals this campaign despite the spending the majority of the season playing second fiddle to the prolific Argentine ace.
A City source said: “Gabriel is going nowhere – he has never given the club any indication that he isn’t happy here at City.
“He isn’t one of the bigger earners on the payroll and, when the timing is right, the club plan to acknowledge his elevated status within the squad and on the wider stage.”
Manchester City are also confident Guardiola will extend his stay at the club despite interest from Barcelona.
Man City’s Gabriel Jesus appears on a video link during pop star Belo’s live performance to announce his three tonnes of food donation
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
