Fernandinho to be rewarded by Manchester City with a 12-month contract extension to stay at the Etihad
Brazilian's current deal expires at the end of the next season but the manager still sees him as an important first-team player
MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola is set to give captain Fernandinho a 12-month contract extension this summer.
The 31-year-old is seen as a key part of the City midfield, despite being sent off three times already this season.
The Brazilian will have just a year left on his deal in June, and Guardiola doesn’t want to risk losing him on a free.
Keep up to date with ALL the Manchester City news, gossip, transfers and goals on our club page plus fixtures, results and live match commentary
And it is thought City want to give him rolling 12-month extensions as they believe he can play well into his 30s.
An Etihad source said: “They are looking at sorting it this summer. He’s had discipline issues, but Pep still has his back.
“The boss thinks Fern can be another Brazilian like Cafu or Dani Alves and perform at a high level into his late 30s.”
Fernandinho can agree to join a foreign club from January 2018 if he doesn’t sign a new deal, something City want to avoid.
He earns £100,000-a-week at the Etihad and is seen as a vital part of the squad, both on and off the pitch.
The ex-Shakhtar Donetsk ace is helping rising star Gabriel Jesus settle into Manchester life.
The Brazilian pair have been spotted out having lunch together, and he has been giving the youngster advice.
And Fernandinho is thought to have been a key part in persuading the 19-year-old to snub Barcelona and move to City for £27m.
The midfielder joined Guardiola’s side in the summer of 2013 from Shakhtar Donetsk for a hefty £34m.
He has made 119 appearances for the club and scored eleven goals over the past four seasons.