DENAYER STALLS ON CITY DEAL

The Belgian defender, who turned 20 last month, won Premiership and League Cup medals, picked up the SPFA’s Young Player of the Year award and made 44 appearances during his season-long arrangement.

Denayer, who also made his international debut against Israel during the campaign, is in no rush to commit to the Etihad giants.

His agent, Jesse Preter, is keen to know if the centre-half will get enough minutes on the pitch before signing a new contract.

He said: “What Mangala and Demichelis can do, Jason can do, as well.

“We are negotiating a five-year extension, but Manchester City have to show us that he will get the possibility to integrate into the starting X1.”

City have announced a host of extensions for their young players in the last fortnight, but Denayer’s new deal is not likely to be imminent.

Preter added: “It is complicated and we are still far from an agreement.”

Ironically, Denayer’s chances of top team football have been enhanced with Ronny Deila signing his fellow-Belgian Dedryck Boyata as his replacement to partner Virgil van Dijk.

Matija Nastasic has also departed for Schalke and Karim Rekik has joined Marseille, so there is a strong chance Denayer will be included in the four centre-backs Manuel Pellegrini will use in his first team squad in the new season.