Report: Gabriel Jesus Halts Manchester City Contract Talks After Rejecting Offer

Gabriel Jesus has reportedly postponed his contract talks with Manchester City until after the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but both parties remain confident a deal will eventually be struck.

According to Paul Hirst in The Times, the 20-year-old and City entered talks over a new deal in December, but they have now been put on hold after the Brazil international rejected terms worth £90,000 per week earlier in March that would have seen him extend to 2023.

Jesus' camp believe he deserves in excess of £100,000 per week, but given there is no suggestion he wants to leave the club, confidence is high that contract talks will be concluded successfully after the tournament in Russia, according to Hirst.

Jesus only joined City from Brazilian side Palmeiras in January 2017, and he has quickly established himself as one of the top young strikers in Europe, capable even of competing for a first-team spot with Sergio Aguero.

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He has suffered a couple of injuries during his time in England but has still managed to return 15 goals and seven assists in 31 Premier League appearances under Sky Blues manager Pep Guardiola.

The Brazilian penned a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad Stadium when he moved to City so he is already tied to the club until 2021.

However, such has been his quality in the early stages of his City career that it is little surprise the Manchester outfit are keen to get him to commit for longer.

Jesus looks like a ready-made successor for Aguero, who has been hugely prolific for City since joining the club in 2011 but recently hinted at a return to Independiente in 2020, per Fox Sports Argentina (via Sky Sports).

Given City's financial clout and the contribution Jesus has already made to the club's success, it seems his representatives are confident they can get the deal they want when negotiations recommence after the summer's World Cup.