Man City are ready to make Haaland Prem top earner on a £500,000-a-week wage to stave off Real Madrid transfer fees

MANCHESTER CITY is poised to make Erling Haaland the Premier League’s top earner – and end talk of a Real Madrid heist.

Etihad bosses are set to sit down with the 42-goal striker at the end of the season to discuss a new £500,000-a-week contract.

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Haaland is in the first year of a deal that runs until 2027 and City plan to extend it by 12 months.

They are keen to reward him for a sensational first year in England – and KO Real’s hopes of bringing the 22-year-old Norwegian to LaLiga in the near future.

Haaland is currently earning a weekly wage of £375,000 – the highest of the Prem with team-mate Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea – with various additional clauses.

But his agent Rafaela Pimenta has fueled rumors of a move to Madrid, claiming Real are the “dream” for players.

And the Spanish giants are said to have an “Operation Haaland” plan.

Sources close to Haaland insist he is perfectly happy in Manchester but City are keen to send a firm ‘hands off’ message.

And they believe a new contract, running through the end of the 2028 season and recognizing his incredible debut campaign, will do just that.

City beat Real when they triggered his £51.4million release clause from Borussia Dortmund last summer – and its value has quadrupled since.

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Haaland asked for a release clause in his original agreement but sources insist it no longer applies after City boss Pep Guardiola extended his own contract for two more seasons earlier this year.

The forward is approaching half a century of goals for City and notched his SIXTH hat-trick of the season in last week’s FA Cup win over Burnley.

City are also hoping that ending all speculation about his future will help convince Dortmund friend Jude Bellingham to join him in Manchester this summer.

Haaland’s camp are understood to have given hints that they are interested in holding talks and City are confident he will follow Julian Alvarez’s lead.

The Argentine world champion received a pay rise after adding another season to his contract despite only joining in January 2022.

Meanwhile, City will reclaim their money if Kalvin Phillips leaves the Etihad.

Former clubs Leeds, West Ham and Newcastle are all interested in the midfielder, who has endured a nightmare since his £42million move from Yorkshire last summer.

The Hammers were KO’d with a loan request in January, but Phillips has still not started a Prem game after recovering from shoulder surgery.