City could hike Erling pay to ward off Saudis

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City are ready to make Erling Haaland the country’s best-paid star with talks over a new deal worth £28.6million a year.

Haaland’s contract runs until 2027 and Etihad bosses had already sounded out his agent Rafaela Pimenta about adding another 12 months.

But this summer’s Saudi Arabian raids on the Premier League have further focused Man City.

And while even they cannot compete with the Middle East billions, they are prepared to up his weekly basic to £550,000 for the next five years.

Haaland — top earner at the Etihad with Kevin De Bruyne on £375,000 — could boost that even more with personal and team-related bonuses.

The Norwegian, who won both the PFA Player of the Year and Uefa’s version in midweek, hit his seventh City hat-trick on Saturday.

Haaland, 23, has no release clause but remains on Real Madrid’s wish-list.

Al-Ittihad’s £170m bid for Liverpool’s Mo Salah nudged City into trying to nail down Haaland, who they rate close to £300m.

Talks for an extension to 2028 are set to start within weeks but sources close to the player insist there is no hint of him being tempted by Saudi or the Bernabeu.