Richards to sign new City deal "soon"
Richards has thrived at centre-back since Eriksson took over
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Wednesday, 05, Sep 2007 09:14
Micah Richards says he hopes to sign a new deal with Manchester City soon, after the club offered him a contract extension.
Richards has already made some eye-catching displays at the heart of the City defence this season.
He has been playing at centre-back since Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as opposed to right-back where he spent the majority of last season.
Richards told the BBC: "I am very happy at City. Hopefully we will have something signed very soon.
"I have been offered a new contract and, although I have not signed anything yet, it should be sorted out soon."
Richards says he is waiting for his father to return from Africa, where he is setting up a soccer school, for the contract negotiations to be finalised.
The 19-year-old was named man-of-the-match during City's 1-0 victory over Manchester United earlier this season, and was named in Steve McClaren's starting XI for England's friendly with Germany last month.
Richards says his international aspirations are one of the factors that motivated him to pen a new deal at City, claiming that regular first-team football is his priority.
He said: "To me the most important thing now for my England chances with Euro 2008 coming up is to be playing week-in week-out.
"If I am at City then I am hopefully going to be doing that, so it will be the best thing for me."
Richards says he would like to play at centre-back for England in the future but is happy to deputise for Gary Neville at right-back for the time being.