Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is set to put pen to paper on a contract extension to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium into a ninth season.
The 36-year-old, whose current deal will expire in the summer, has not been a regular starter for Pep Guardiola’s side this season and had been considering his future, with clubs from both Europe and South America making offers to the veteran.
Fernandinho recently revealed (via the Daily Mail) that he planned to wait until after the Champions League final on 29 May to make a final decision on his future, but The Telegraph claim that he has already agreed to stay at City.
The Brazilian midfielder believes he still has the ability to play at the highest level and is keen to keep going at the Etihad, despite no longer being an undisputed starter under Pep Guardiola.
Fernandinho has started just 11 Premier League games this season, with Rodri taking most of the minutes at the base of midfield, but the 36-year-old remains a vital player behind the scenes, with his dressing room leadership valued almost as much as his ability on the field.
There is even a suggestion that City are looking to keep Fernandinho around after his retirement, although there is no mention when that would be.
There’s a chance it could be fairly soon as City are on the hunt for a long-term replacement for Fernandinho already. Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli is the man named in this report, but there have been plenty of other candidates mentioned.
West Ham United‘s Declan Rice is thought to be on the shortlist, as are Bundesliga duo Denis Zakaria and Mahmoud Dahoud of Gladbach and Dortmund respectively, but one player who is not thought to be under consideration is Aston Villa‘s Douglas Luiz.
City do have a buy-back option on the Brazilian, who has impressed at Villa Park this year, but they are not expected to trigger their option if Fernandinho remains at the club.
Any appearance next season would see Fernandinho become one of the oldest outfield players in Premier League history, but he still has a long way to go before he matches Teddy Sheringham’s record of turning out for West Ham just a few months short of his 41st birthday.
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