Joe Hart ‘to be offered £18 mln pay deal’

LONDON (AFP) – Joe Hart will be given a mammoth £18 million pay deal to recognise his new status as Manchester City’s number one goalkeeper, the News of the World reported on Sunday, without naming its source.

The England keeper, who has three years left on his contract, has been one of the lowest-paid members of the Eastlands squad on a reported £28,000 a week, the tabloid newspaper said.

But now the club plans to offer Hart of a five-year deal worth £70,000 a week, according to the report.

Hart, 23, appears to have won the battle with Shay Given for the starting place after the Republic of Ireland international was told he could leave the club.

Hart reinforced his claim as first choice goalkeeper when he turned in a man of the match display in the 0-0 draw at Tottenham last week.

Just three days earlier he had impressed for England in the 2-1 win over Hungary at Wembley and made a solid claim also to be Fabio Capello’s number one choice for the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

City will wait until the transfer window closes at the end of the month and then attempt to broker talks with Hart on a new five-year deal worth £70,000-a-week, with the aim of getting it signed before the end of the year, the News of the World said.

The club also want to put Hart further off-limits by placing a £20m price tag on him even though his new status means he is very unlikely to seek a transfer, the newspaper added.

Manager Roberto Mancini met Hart and Given at the training ground on Monday and explained his selection plans to both players, according to the report

Given, 34, has since been linked with moves to Arsenal, Fulham and Celtic.

Now City are thought to fancy Stoke’s Asmir Begovic as back-up for Hart, the newspaper said.