Teenage sensation Kelechi Iheanacho wants a new deal worth £150,000-a-week from Manchester City.
The striker’s advisers believe he has earned parity – at least – with team-mate Raheem Sterling, on the basis that Iheanacho’s emergence has saved the Blues from having to spend big on a new young frontman this summer.
They also feel rising-star Iheanacho has proven himself superior to Wilfried Bony , who has flopped since his £28million move to the Etihad from Swansea 17 months ago.
City fully recognise £15,000-a-week Iheanacho’s value and are set to reward him with a vastly-improved deal once a contract wrangle over who represents him is resolved.
Iheanacho has graduated to the first team and scored 13 goals so far in this his debut senior campaign.
England international Sterling , who signed from Liverpool for a package totalling £49million last summer, has netted 11 times in his first season with the Mancunian Blues.
Bony, who earns £100,000-a-week plus a £20,000-per-game bonus, has managed only eight goals this season and a total of ten in all competitions since being signed in January last year.
Many of Iheanacho’s scores have come off the bench, which means he already has one of the best goals per minutes ratios in Europe.
He was among the goals on the way to City’s Capital One Cup final win in February.
The 19-year-old has also played in both legs of their Champions League semi-final loss to Real Madrid.
City are waiting for the outcome of a complaint over his representation that has been lodged with the FA before they can enter negotiations over a new deal.
United States-based First Eleven Management have represented Iheanacho since he was a schoolboy and advised him over his move to the Etihad in January 2014.
They say the youngster signed a new representation agreement when he turned 18, but London-based Stellar Group say they are his new advisers.
City beat Arsenal to the signing of Iheanacho from Nigeria’s Taye Academy two years ago.
Now a full Nigeria international, he is set to be a big part of new boss Pep Guardiola’s plans next season.