Manchester City

Henry Brownsey
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland is unquestionably a phenomenon, the Leeds-born Norwegian could have been firing England to international glory alongside Harry Kane - if he was to choose to play for his country of birth.

Instead, he chose to play for Norway and the 24-year-old, who drinks raw milk, eats cow's liver and heart, enjoys fishing and playing video games in his spare time, has taken the Premier League by storm - and that is understating it.

The 6ft 4in striker is currently on track to beat Alan Shearer's all time Premier League goalscoring record with four years left of his 10 year contract.

He needs 106 goals to overtake Sergio Aguero and become City's Premier League all-time top scorer, while he only needs another five hat-tricks to overtake the Argentine and become the player with the most trebles in the league's history.

Haaland has followed his own advice and "stayed humble" in his time at the club so far, but what records has he achieved since he made his Premier League debut at London Stadium in 2022?

Scored the most goals (79).

Image source, Getty Images

Scored the most hat-tricks (eight).

Image source, Getty Images

Taken the most shots on target (166)

Image source, Getty Images

Has the best minutes/goal ratio (minimum 10 goals - 91)

Image source, Getty Images

Accumulated the most xG (74.1).

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich have the belief to do something that "nobody will think we can do" against Manchester City, says boss Kieran McKenna.

When the two side first met in August, the newly promoted Tractor Boys took a surprise early lead, before Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne turned it around for a 4-1 home win.

"One of biggest takeaways from [the defeat] was that we weren't able to handle negative momentum away from home," McKenna said.

"Their first goal came from our mistake really - they took the game away from us really quickly and we weren't able to deal with that. We have improved in that aspect of the game, particularly in tough games away from home.

"We have learned to manage negative momentum better than that day."

McKenna's side are facing a different City team to that match, with Guardiola's side sitting sixth in the table having seen their form plummet in November and December.

Despite the defending Premier League champions' inconsistency, McKenna does not feel his team need to change their approach.

"We need to go in with humility, respect the opponent, have belief in ourselves to go and do something nobody will think we can do. We want to make it a really competitive game and to get a result.

"We respect the opponent, everything they have done the past few seasons. They are still a top, top team. We will prepare for that as best as possible but need to find a way of competing and make it as difficult a game for them as possible.

"We have Liverpool and Manchester City in the next two games, we have to enjoy that challenge, we have to go into it with a positive mindset."

The Ipswich boss also confirmed that new g Jaden Philogene will be in the squad, but they will have to "wait and see" how many minutes he can play.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Erling Haaland's new contract that will see him remain at Manchester City until 2034.

Here are some of your comments:

Pete: All we've heard until now was that City was a stepping stone in his journey to eventually end up at Real Madrid. He has now been won over by the whole set-up at City and how happy it has made him. The money helps too!

Alfie: This is very strange timing in my opinion. With all the unresolved issues surrounding the club and the fact that his contract ran until 2027, to commit to a club for such a long period is very commendable. Unless he knows something we don't?

Neil: Well, that news has banished the Brentford blues for sure! This indicates a number of significant things, not least the potential outcome of the 115 charges. But does it mean Pep will extend again too? Fabulous news!

Usama: Absolutely overjoyed with this one. The best striker in the world for sure. We have got a way to go to get back to our usual standards but with the correct investments we will, and this man will be at the forefront of it all.

Listen to Haaland speak to Alan Shearer about his hopes, dreams and family

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Ipswich Town (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He said Erling Haaland's contract "is exceptional news for the club" and it is proof of trust between him and the club.

• On why it is such a long deal: "He wants to show how much he wants to be here. He loves the club and the people he is around. He loves the Premier League and being here with his family. He must feel there is no better place for him in the next 10 years."

• Guardiola is confident Haaland can still improve, adding: "The team have to create an environment and moments when he can be unstoppable as that is when he is at his best."

• The City boss offered more on the striker and said: "He's making me a better manager."

• In response to whether he will also be tempted to sign a contract of nine and-a-half years, Guardiola joked: "Next season if I'm still here I'll have done 10 years, so he has to beat me!"

• Guardiola said the team will train and be assessed today but "some players finished with some problems - like in every game - so we will see."

• He said Phil Foden's smile is back after scoring twice against Brentford in the week and added: "In the first part of the year I was a little concerned and he was a bit more down. Sometimes you need to breathe and come back."

• On the board's backing: "The trust has always been there and in the last month or month and-a-half, in another environment I wouldn't still be here."

• On Liam Delap, who is impressing at Ipswich, Guardiola said: "So many players have come from this academy. We thought he was a typical striker for the Premier League and he is doing really well. We are happy for him."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to live commentary of Ipswich v Manchester City on BBC Radio 5 Live from 16:30 GMT

Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown s The Football News Show's Ben Croucher to discuss Erling Haaland's new contract at Manchester City, that will see him remain at the club until 2034.

Brown says it will enable the striker to focus purely on his football and explores how it will help City recruit new players.

Watch The Football News Show on iPlayer

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Manchester City FC

This news seemed to come out of nowhere, but is a big statement from club and player.

Erling Haaland has consistently broke records, but they have usually been goalscoring ones – this one sets a new bar for contract length. But after all, his love affair with the Blues dates back to when his dad was a player at Maine Road.

He has sured expectations, quickly showing that yes, he can cut it in the English game. He has stayed largely injury free and has lived 24-7 for his profession, something Pep Guardiola ires.

Maybe Real Madrid g Kylian Mbappe has had an influence as, apart from heading to the Bernabeu, you question where else he would go as as next step.

He has decided the next step is closer to home.

Short term, it is about correcting the form of City - and himself - this season.

Medium term, it will be about chasing down more trophies – another Champions League, more Premier League titles.

Long term, it will be targeting Alan Shearer's Premier League record. With his current trajectory, breaking that is very doable.

In the background, it is difficult to ignore the charges that Manchester City are facing – and denying - from the Premier League.

Neither party has commented on what this deal tells us, but a nine-and-a-half year contract, in the year the Blues could face some of the harshest punishments ever dealt to a club if found guilty, perhaps doubles down City's stance that they have done nothing wrong, and demonstrates a strong trust between player and club.

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game - home and away - live on BBC Radio Manchester.

Erling Haaland has taken the Premier League by storm since his move from Borussia Dortmund.

The Norway striker has won two Premier League titles, one Champions League, one FA Cup, the Community Shield and Uefa Supercup.

In the Premier League alone he has scored 79 goals in his 87 appearances - a strike rate of 0.9 goals a game, and a record of scoring a goal every 91 minutes. As the graph below shows, that is the best of anyone who has played more than 5,000 minutes in the competition.

Given he has already scored eight hat-tricks, it is possibly not a huge surprise.

He is only six goals shy of being in the top 50 Premier League scorers of all time - and needs to score around 18 goals a season if he is to break the all-time scoring record over the duration of this contract.

At current pace, he would sur Alan Shearer's record of 260 goals towards the end of the 2029-30 season.

Image source, Getty Images

Erling Haaland says he is "City no matter what" after committing his future to the club for another nine-and-a-half years.

The 24-year-old's previous deal was set to expire in 2027, but he is now contracted to City until 2034.

"I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club," said the Norway striker.

"Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing ers and it's the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.

"I also want to thank Pep, his coaching staff, my team-mates and everyone at the club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years. They have made this such a special place to be and now I am City, no matter what.

"Now I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward."

Tell us what you think of Haaland's deal

Image source, Manchester City FC

Manchester City's director of football, Txiki Begiristain, says Erling Haaland's "dedication, professionalism, humility and desire" are a true reflection of what the club strives to achieve daily.

Begiristain, who will depart City in the summer, said: "Everyone at the club is absolutely delighted that Erling has signed his new contract. The fact he is signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player, and his love of this club.

"He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves.

"In addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling's dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.

"He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.

"Now he can focus on his game and continuing to play a huge part in helping us try to achieve even more success."

Image source, Manchester City FC

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed an unprecedented deal to keep him at City until 2034.

Haaland, who ed City in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund, has scored 111 goals in 126 appearances.

In his debut season, in which City won the Treble, his 52 goals in all competitions were more than any other striker in Europe that season and the greatest tally ever by a Premier League player.

He also broke Alan Shearer and Andy Cole's long-standing Premier League record for the most goals scored in a single season (36).

Read the full story here

Happy, City fans?

What do you make of the length of the deal?

A masterclass to tie him down for so long, or is a decade too long?

Let us know your thoughts

Manchester City would have to pay £67m for Juventus and Italy defender Andrea Cambiaso, 24, in the January transfer window. (Gianluca di Marzio - in Italian), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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We asked for you what one thing - good or bad - that nobody is talking about at Manchester City but should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Mike: The elephant in the room is a replacement for Rodri. Even now our activity in the transfer market is around defenders and a backup striker. Zubimendi was available but now he looks as if he is going to Arsenal. We are dragging our feet over Ederson at Atalanta. Is it that we are just afraid of upsetting Rodri or that Pep Guardiola thinks we can survive without him?

Boza: We do not have the hunger that we used to have. The reason Liverpool sit top is because their team wants it more, otherwise we have a better squad than Liverpool. The second we get our hunger to win back we will be on form again.

Brian: Manchester City are now playable. Other teams have found the Achilles heel. The high-line is not easily defended and too much possession means that teams now push on in the counter-attack. Is the Pep gameplan no longer an asset?

Jahn: We need more clean sheets. I love Ederson, but it seems he is no longer at his best.

Kevin: It needs to be acknowledged that Gundogan's return has been an unmitigated mistake. His contribution has been ineffective and is miles away from his previous contributions. The end of his contract can't come soon enough.

Roger: The bigger picture of not having a succession plan in place for either ageing players or coaching staff will bite.

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