Manchester City intensify contract renewal talks as Bayern Munich and Ajax circle for attacking midfielder | OneFootball

Officials within the Etihad Stadium are stepping up their aim of renewing the contractual terms of one of their finest talents amid interest from Europe.

Manchester City are expected to undergo an expansive review of their first-team options over the course of the coming weeks that could also include an analysis of academy prospects ready to make the step up into senior men’s football.

It comes as Pep Guardiola’s side have vastly underperformed this season for various reasons – largely due to injury and fitness problems – and find themselves on the verge of missing out on UEFA Champions League football for next season.

As such, the work to be undertaken by incoming director of football Hugo Viana, alongside guidance from his soon-to-be predecessor Txiki Begiristain, takes even greater importance when the Portuguese official takes on the role full-time in the summer.

Among the tasks currently being undertaken by those in squad planning positions concerns one of the club’s very best emerging talents from its academy system, with growing interest from European football in the services of the player.

That is according to the information of transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano, who reveals that both Bayern Munich and Ajax have once again sent scouts this month to follow Manchester City’s highly-rated attacking midfield talent, Divine Mukasa.

However, such is the belief within the Etihad Stadium that the 17-year-old has a immense future ahead of him that Romano reveals Manchester City are simultaneously planning to extend his contract and retain his services.

Mukasa has been one of Manchester City’s standout goal contributors in their academy system this season, starring in particular in Under-18 Premier League competition with a remarkable 16 goals and 15 assists from attacking midfield in 19 appearances.

Across all competitions, that takes the teenager’s output to 17 goals and 25 assists in 35 appearances having featured in matches across varying age groups competing in UEFA Youth League, Premier League 2, and FA Youth Cup matches.

A report in mid-Marcg also highlighted the excitement and focus on Mukasa within the game at present, after it was revealed that scouts at Manchester City’s 0-6 win over West Brom in the FA Youth Cup headed for the exits on 75 minutes when the player was substituted.