Former Premier League striker and BBC pundit Noel Whelan believes that Manchester City ace Phil Foden is fully deserving of a new contract with the Premier League champions as he closes in on a fresh deal.

The Lowdown: Bumper contract on the horizon

According to a report from the Daily Star on Saturday, the midfielder is preparing to put pen to paper on a six-year contract extension that will be worth £200k-per-week, earning him a whopping £62.4m over the entire length of the deal.

The same source states that 22-year-old currently nets only £65k-per-week, but that looks set to increase as the Sky Blues reward him for his outstanding contribution to the starting XI last season.

The Latest: Whelan’s praise for Foden

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan heaped praise on Foden and insisted that Man City are right to offer him this new bumper deal. He said:

“You can’t knock any deal for Foden.

“He’s one of the best starlets we have in England right now.

“When you see him play the game, wow. He’s so influential on the ball with his work rate and quality in the final third. I don’t think anyone on that side deserves a contract more than Foden.

“There’s always an end product with him. He is the longevity of Man City now, along with Kalvin Phillips and Erling Haaland.

“There’s a power shift now towards these younger players who are going to be the future for the club.”

The Verdict: Building for the future

Rodri is the most recent City player to commit his long-term future to the club, and it looks as though Foden will soon follow in his footsteps.

The Stockport-born talent enjoyed a real breakthrough into the first XI last term and made a massive difference to Pep Guardiola’s side, netting 14 goals and registering 11 assists across all competitions, with only Kevin De Bruyne (14) providing more, via BBC Sport.

Looking at the age profiles of two of the boss’ new additions, Erling Haaland (21) and Julian Alvarez (22), it’s clear to see that he is now bringing players in with the view of building a team for the future, and Foden is someone who will be more than involved in that set up in years to come.