Justin Haak told The Post on Friday that there have been talks between New York City FC and his representatives about working out a new deal to remain with the club amid growing interest from MLS clubs and teams overseas.
The 24-year-old defender will become a free agent when NYCFC’s season concludes — the club is in the middle of a playoff run, facing the Union on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals — but multiple reports have indicated that other organizations are starting to line up for his servives.
Speaking with The Post at NYCFC’s training facility in Orangeburg, Haak revealed the conversations between the club and his reps.
“Yeah, there have been talks that have been getting better here,” Haak said. “It started off slow, I would say, but since the season’s been going well as well, I feel like it’s picked up a little bit.”
Haak is a shining example of NYCFC’s academy program, with the Brooklyn native becoming a big part of the club’s recent success and developing into one of the league’s top defenders.
It’s part of the reason why he’s likely drawn such an interest from teams across the globe.
Sixteen MLS teams have reached out to inquire about Haak’s services, and six clubs from the English Football League Championship, the country’s second division, amNewYork reported Thursday.
NYCFC head coach Pascal Jansen indicated that his focus was on the club’s upcoming playoff match on Sunday against Philadelphia when asked about the reports.
“Personal interest about individual players or whatever they plan for the next season is irrelevant,” he said.
Jansen and Haak have developed a strong relationship over the course of the gaffer’s first year with the club.
Still among the teams mentioned that have shown interest in Haak, both Coventry City and Middlesbrough have been mentioned as both clubs could be looking at a promotion to the Premier League, depending on the way things shake out this season for them.
Haak said Thursday that he was aware of his contract situation when the season began and has been focused on just playing his best on the pitch.
He has appeared in 35 matches for NYCFC this season, recording a goal and being one of 10 players in MLS to log more than 3,000 minutes.
He’s also been one of the best ball movers in the league, completing 1,747 passes, good for 16th-best in MLS.
While Haak said that he’s been in regular communication with his reps, the message has always been the same.
“Throughout the season, there’s been a bunch of talks going on, but it’s always been that I just need to do my job on the field,” he said. “That’s always been my biggest focus and they’ll take care of the rest.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
