Joe Hart

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is reportedly close to signing a new five-year contract with the Premier League champions.

According to the Telegraph, Hart has been in negotiations with the club over a new deal and talks are set to resume following his return from international duty with England.

Manuel Pellegrini was relatively quiet this summer transfer window, but has managed to persuade key players Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and Samir Nasri to sign new long-term deals with the club and the addition of the Englishman will be another feather in the Chilean manager's cap.

The 27-year-old goalkeeper momentarily lost his place in the team last season following a loss of form, but has since recovered and made the number one spot his own. Despite the arrival of new keeper Willy Caballero, Pellegrini prefers the England international as his first-choice keeper.

Hart is delighted with the time he has spent with the club and is looking forward to doing well with the current squad.

"I have been lucky enough to be here a long time, I've seen the ambition grow and grow. It's a fair expectancy; it's a fair belief because we've got great players and great people around the club," Hart said, as quoted in the Telegraph.

"I'm proud to have been here a long time and I'm really enjoying being part of Manchester City."

"We've had a good year under this manager and we feel ready to kick on. This club wants to do well - and nobody wants to do better than this group of players," the England number 1 added.