Manuel Pellegrini has signalled a breakthrough in Manchester City’s contract negotiations with Joe Hart, saying there could be good news very soon.
Hart’s current deal expires in 2016 and discussions between the goalkeeper and club have dragged on. However, Pellegrini said: “I always said it is important for this club to keep Joe with us. He is a very good goalkeeper and not only a very good goalkeeper, he is a very important player for the squad also. So maybe in the next day you will have good news.”
Pressed if Hart would sign in the next 24 hours, the manager said: “I can’t say exactly the amount of hours, but the next day.”
If Hart does finalise terms these are expected to be worth around £110,000 a week over five years. As with all City contracts this will be heavily performance-based, meaning that the basic salary could rise to close on £150,000, in line with a host of the team’s top players, who agreed fresh terms at the start of season.
Vincent Kompany, the captain, signed a contract worth a basic £120,000 a week while David Silva now receives £130,000, though each player also enjoys lucrative add-ons. Samir Nasri, Sergio Agüero, Aleksandar Kolarov and Edin Dzeko all committed their long-term futures to the club in August.
Pellegrini is pleased with Hart’s form and his response to the signing of Willy Caballero, who joined for £6m from Málaga in the close season as competition but made only one league appearance. “Joe is having a very good season,” he said. “The arrival of Willy Caballero was very important for the club, for Joe, for Willy, for everyone because he is a very good goalkeeper.
“I think the best way for players to have high performance is when they have important competition. I think that was very useful for him and I am very happy about that.”
Stevan Jovetic is out for Everton’s visit on Saturday but it is thought to be a minor injury and he should return for Wednesday evening’s crucial final Champions League group match at Roma.
Agüero has scored the bulk of City’s goals – 19 in 20 appearances – and Dzeko is the manager’s only other fit recognised forward. Pellegrini denied that his striking resources were thin, however, saying: “No, because Stevan was just a precaution for this game. I hope he will not have any problems for Wednesday and Edin at this moment is 100% fit. So we hope with the three of them – we also have [the 18-year-old Spanish forward José Ángel] Pozo who is a good player – we can cover that position.”
Of the games against Everton and Roma, the Chilean said: “It is an important [week] because it is important to recover the trust in the way we play and the way we play every day. Maybe before this week we were not in the crisis most of you said, but it’s important to arrive at this moment of the season.
“In the Premier League, I always say that December is the key month and to be as near the top of the table as we possibly can and of course to try and play a new stage in the Champions League. So the more trust we have, the better for us and I think this is a good moment.”