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LONDON – Pep Guardiola is moving closer to agreeing a new two-year contract at Manchester City, Sportsmail revealled.

The 51-year-old has seven months left to run on his current deal and there is a confidence that he is set to extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium for a third time.

Guardiola was appointed in 2016 and the proposed extension would take him to nine years at the club, raising the prospect of reaching a decade in charge.

The City boss is currently in Abu Dhabi with club officials – attending the Grand Prix last weekend – and is known to be happy in his role as manager.

Those close to the Catalan believe he can continue delivering success to City as he goes in search of a fifth Premier League title – and an elusive Champions League crown.

Stunning

Talk surrounding Guardiola’s future has not been as feverish as two years ago, much of that down to Erling Haaland’s stunning start to life in England dominating the headlines.

But City will not want questions over his situation lingering later into the season and the break for the World Cup has always been earmarked as an opportune moment to discuss plans with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, with whom Guardiola enjoys a strong relationship.

The defending league champions will be back in Abu Dhabi early next month for a short warm-weather training camp before restarting an attempt to catch Arsenal in the title race.

While Guardiola has publicly distanced City from making any January signings, they are expected to back him in the transfer market next summer, with finance available to purchase a central midfielder.

England star Jude Bellingham is among those they are monitoring, although City remain wary of the pulling power of both Real Madrid and Liverpool.