MANCHESTER CITY are set to hand Eric Garcia a new five-year deal in the coming weeks.
The 18-year-old made his first start in the Champions League in their 4-1 win at away at Dinamo Zagreb earlier this week.
Manchester City are keen to tie down highly-rated young defender Eric Garcia to a long-term dealCredit: Rex Features
The central defender has already made five appearances this season after breaking into Pep Guardiola’s first-team plans.
And City want to tie him down with a long-term contract, with an increase on his £10,000-a-week terms.
It is understood he will head towards the £25,000-a-week mark, to be on par with fellow academy graduate Phil Foden.
Garcia has two-years left on his present deal, but want to stop him leaving with Real Madrid and Barcelona both interested.
An Etihad source said: “We’re anticipating it going through by the start of the new year. This kid is the real deal.
“Pep and his staff know it. He’s such a student of the game and old beyond his young years.
“The club are looking to box him off for the long-term. He’s known to be one of the best at his age.”
Garcia quit Barcelona two-years ago to link up with the City academy and learn his trade under Guardiola.
His agent is former Nou Camp legend Carles Puyol, who is set to sit down with the club in the coming weeks.
The teenager is already in Spain’s Under-21 side and can expect a run in City’s team with a number of injuries at the back.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
