City hoping Sun sets sights on new contract

Manchester City are to offer Chinese international Sun Jihai a new contract.

The Blues’ utility man has been out of action since rupturing cruciate knee ligaments in City’s surprise Barclays Premiership win over Chelsea in October.

His present deal was due to run out at the end of the season – but at the time of his injury manager Kevin Keegan called on his club’s board to show some compassion and extend his stay at Eastlands.

Although it was initially feared the 27-year-old would be out until Christmas this year – such was the seriousness of the injury – Sun Jihai has so far made an impressive recovery. He will definitely not play again in the current campaign but is likely to be ready to take a full part in pre-season training.

Heartened by that news, City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh will sit down for talks with Sun Jihai’s advisers over the next few weeks and hopes to work out a deal to keep the crowd favourite who has been badly missed by Keegan this term.

Meanwhile, there has still been no development in the Nicolas Anelka saga despite further speculation suggesting Fenerbahce are preparing a bid for the controversial French striker.

City officials insists there has been no contact with the Turkish outfit since their preliminary inquiry for Anelka, who is still awaiting the results of a scan into the back and groin problems which have seen him miss City’s last three games.