Dias deal first piece of jigsaw for Hugo Viana...

ONE down, two to go? Ruben Dias's new deal to extend his stay at City is the first piece of the jigsaw for Hugo Viana when it comes to sorting out contracts for a trio of senior players who have entered the final two years of their current deals.

- By TYRONE MARSHALL

Dias, Rodri, and Phil Foden all have contracts expiring in June 2027, and getting new deals for all three would have been a priority for director of football Viana, who took over the reins from Txiki Begiristain this summer.

Some renewals will certainly be easier than others but, generally, clubs see a greater sense of urgency to finalise contracts when players reach their final two years.

There isn't much of an attraction to walking away from City, but then nobody at Liverpool would have expected Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave when he still had just under two years left on his Anfield deal.