Zabaleta, Richards set for new City deals

Manchester City are planning to hold contract extension discussions with defenders Micah Richards and Pablo Zabaleta.

City have worked hard over recent months to tie key men down on fresh terms, with the likes of Yaya Toure and David Silva committing their long-term futures to the club.

The Blues intend to continue pressing ahead with those talks, with it important for them to keep the 'core' of their squad intact.

Chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak has revealed that he hopes to have further positive news to report on the contract front in the near future.

Richards and Zabaleta are among those set to be presented with new deals, with the defensive duo considered to be important assets heading forward.

"There are other players coming soon - Zabaleta, Micah Richards," Al-Mubarak told the club's official website.

"We'll make sure these players stay part of the future at City because they are really the core of this team.

"As much as we need to continue to invest in this team we also need to invest in the core foundation of the team, which is these players."