Sven-Göran Eriksson, the Manchester City manager, is convinced that Micah Richards will sign a new deal worth £2 million per year and end Chelsea and Manchester United’s hopes of luring the 19-year-old defender away from the City of Manchester Stadium.

The centre back has become a target after establishing himself for club and country. His failure to sign a new deal has fuelled speculation that he could leave City. Chelsea see Richards as a potential solution to their problems at right back and with doubts growing over Gary Neville’s long-term future, Richards had been identified as a target by Manchester United.

But Eriksson has no doubt that Richards will stay put, despite the delay in concluding new terms worth about £40,000 per week. “I don’t know the reason for the delay,” Eriksson said. “But I’m not worried about the contract. I don’t know everything but it’s a good contract, it has to be.”

Talks have been delayed by the player switching agents. The defender is at present looked after by the SEM agency but hopes to be represented by his father from the end of this year.

And Eriksson is confident that will trigger a successful end to negotiations – and is hopeful that Richards will remain at the club for the foreseeable future. He said: “I think he will play at this club for many, many years, maybe, hopefully, for the rest of his career. He’s happy, he was born happy – he’s a happy man.”

Richards will be at the heart of the City defence for the match at home to Blackburn Rovers this evening with Eriksson’s side looking to extend their 100 per cent home league record.

Joe Hart will be in goal after being declared the club’s No 1 ahead of Andreas Isaksson, the Sweden goalkeeper, last week.

Eriksson is convinced that it will not be long before the England Under-21 goalkeeper graduates to Fabio Capello’s senior team. The manager said: “He has the chance to be England’s No 1. I know the competition is very hard, Scott Carson is more or less the same age, Paul Robinson is not old, but Joe Hart, how good he can be when he is 25, who knows?”

Manchester City (probable; 4-2-3-1): J Hart – V Corluka, M Richards, R Dunne, J Garrido – D Hamann, G Fernandes – S Ireland, Elano, M Petrov – R Bianchi.

Blackburn Rovers (probable; 4-4-2): B Friedel – B Emerton, C Samba, R Nelsen, B Berner – D Bentley, D Dunn, S Reid, M G Pedersen – B McCarthy, R Santa Cruz.

Referee: H Webb.
Television: Sky Sports 1 (kick-off, 7.45pm).