City want to take Hart

Manchester City have made a £100,000 (€145,491) bid for talented Shrewsbury keeper Joe Hart.

While no-one from the Premiership outfit was willing to confirm the move, PA Sport understands officials from the Eastlands outfit have contacted their Shrewsbury counterparts with a formal offer for the England Under-19 international.

The move is no surprise given the number of times City boss Stuart Pearce has dispatched goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers to watch the highly-rated 18-year-old.

Pearce saw Hart in action himself during the Shrews’ Carling Cup tie with Sheffield United in September and cannot have failed to be impressed by the 6ft 5in giant’s performance even though the League Two outfit eventually lost on penalties.

Shrewsbury-born Hart has made 32 senior appearances for his hometown club since manager Gary Peters handed him his league debut against Oxford last season.

Despite a recent back problem, Hart was in goal for last night’s 1-0 home win over Wrexham, although if Pearce has his way, it will be one of the youngster’s last appearances for the Shropshire outfit.

It had been thought Pearce’s interest in the player had cooled slightly when he offered another teenager, Kasper Schmeichel, a new contract.

However, with senior men Nicky Weaver – whose loan period at Sheffield Wednesday has been extended by a further month – and Geert de Vlieger both due to become free agents next summer, the City chief has moved to bolster his options at the start of the transfer window.

Meanwhile, talks are still progressing with Spanish winger Albert Riera over a possible loan move to City.

Despite Espanyol announcing last night a deal had been done for Riera to join until the end of the season, nothing has been signed, although it is anticipated the negotiations will eventually reach a positive conclusion.