Manchester City set to offer Nigel de Jong bumper £25m deal

[Sister of fu]

Manchester City are ready to offer midfield enforcer Nigel de Jong a bumper new £25m contract to keep him at Eastlands for the rest of his top-level career.

The Dutch international has been a key figure in the Blues’ challenge for a Champions League spot this season.

And even though the 26-year-old is a little less than halfway through the four-and-a-half-year deal he signed in January 2009, boss Roberto Mancini is keen to tie him to the club well beyond the summer of 2013 and City are ready to offer him a new four-year £120,000-a-week contract.

The Blues are understood to want to conclude negotiations long before World Cup finalist De Jong reaches the last year of his current deal.

The Dutchman has not played for the Blues since a 2-2 draw at Birmingham on February 2, having picked up an ankle injury.

He is also likely to miss Wednesday night’s FA Cup fifth-round home tie against Aston Villa, although Mancini is hoping he will be back for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Wigan.

The City boss has made no secret of De Jong’s value to the club’s cause. He said: “Nigel is a very important player for us. We don’t have another player like Nigel who can play in front of the defence and win back a lot of balls for us during a game.

“He’s important in the dressing room too, because he is a good guy, he has experience and he’s a leader. But I would prefer him to be back on the pitch.”

[Sister of fu]

Get it signed City. Top top player who we have really missed. We love him to stay for the rest of his career.

[craigmcfc]

I echo Andies' thoughts. Now an integral part of our team who is sorely missed when unavailable.

[Ted Hughes]

He deserves it & in the modern game, when most players just seem to be hired guns who are passing through, DeJong seems to be someone who feels he's in the right place & is getting a real affinity for the club.

[Bingo Lewis]

Where is this from?
Bit hypocritical if true after the statement re Tevez that the club don't negotiate mid season.

[Sister of fu]

Where is this from?
Bit hypocritical if true after the statement re Tevez that the club don't negotiate mid season.

MUEN.

[Ted Hughes]

It probably won't get done until summer.

[craigmcfc]

I presume they've got wind of it, but nothing will happen till the summer

[blues2win]

Worth every penny and as Ted says he seems genuinely committed to the club. You cannot allow the clock to run down below two years for your key players. In my view he's one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and when it takes his fancy he's perfectly capable of surging forward and delivering a quality pass. Now just give us that goal Nigel. Saturday please.

[john68]

See Andie...If City reeeeeally wanted you to stay...This sort of deal could have been yours.

[Kladze]

Worth every penny and as Ted says he seems genuinely committed to the club. You cannot allow the clock to run down below two years for your key players. [highlight]In my view he's one of the best defensive midfielders in the world[/highlight] and when it takes his fancy he's perfectly capable of surging forward and delivering a quality pass. Now just give us that goal Nigel. Saturday please.

One of?

Who is the better one then?

[CitizenYank]

Finally, a move that makes the most sense. Slam Dunk!!

[Slim]

No way, he's too one dimensional.

[kinkylola]

Don't think this is hypocritical at all ... this is what happens when you put your head down, work hard ... and don't let your agent stir up controversy. He deserves it, and he got it. All players should take this as an example. Have you ever seen De Jong speak out about he deserves this and that? Nope. The club knows how important he is and they gave him what he deserves.

this is not negotiating at all. this is not the club being approached by an agent saying "my client wants a new deal or he's walking". this is the club approaching a player who thoroughly deserves all good things that are coming to him.

De jong is a blue.

[Wonderwall]

Worth every penny and as Ted says he seems genuinely committed to the club. You cannot allow the clock to run down below two years for your key players. [highlight]In my view he's one of the best defensive midfielders in the world[/highlight] and when it takes his fancy he's perfectly capable of surging forward and delivering a quality pass. Now just give us that goal Nigel. Saturday please.

One of?

Who is the better one then?

essien

[john@staustell]

Worth every penny and as Ted says he seems genuinely committed to the club. You cannot allow the clock to run down below two years for your key players. [highlight]In my view he's one of the best defensive midfielders in the world[/highlight] and when it takes his fancy he's perfectly capable of surging forward and delivering a quality pass. Now just give us that goal Nigel. Saturday please.

One of?

Who is the better one then?

essien

Was. Not now.

[Wonderwall]

Worth every penny and as Ted says he seems genuinely committed to the club. You cannot allow the clock to run down below two years for your key players. [highlight]In my view he's one of the best defensive midfielders in the world[/highlight] and when it takes his fancy he's perfectly capable of surging forward and delivering a quality pass. Now just give us that goal Nigel. Saturday please.

One of?

Who is the better one then?

essien

Was. Not now.

he was very good again last night and has the added dimension of being able to all that De Jong does AND score goals too. IMO he is the better player, but its all about opinions.

[Biamp]

He really deserves it, he has been great since we signed him. He's a key figure in our team, and we really have missed him lately. Looking forward to have him back in the team.

[mcfc1632]

Where is this from?
Bit hypocritical if true after the statement re Tevez that the club don't negotiate mid season.

Bingo - might be wrong but was it not more a case of: "...we will not negotiate new contracts before the mid-point of existing contracts...."?

[Biamp]

Where is this from?
Bit hypocritical if true after the statement re Tevez that the club don't negotiate mid season.

Bingo - might be wrong but was it not more a case of: "...we will not negotiate new contracts before the mid-point of existing contracts...."?

Regardless, he deserves a better long term contract.