Joe Hart’s relatively young for a goalkeeper, but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking about how this whole thing ends.
The 27-year-old Manchester City backstop wants to retire with the club one day, presumably after many more matches, and is close to signing a deal to keep him at the Etihad Stadium.
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A three-time Premier League Golden Glove winner for most clean sheets in a season, reports say Hart’s new five-year deal could pay about $188,000 a week to stop balls from going into the net.
From the BBC:“As far as I am aware it is pretty much sorted,” the England keeper said. “I want to be here as long as I can.”
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Hart’s existing contract is due to expire in 2016, but he is confident his long-term future at the Etihad will be sorted soon.
He said: “I am very happy at this club and hopefully in the near future I will be signing that contract.”
For whatever reason, Hart has never been able to shake off doubters of his status as City’s long-term No. 1 keeper. City even turned to Costel Pantilimon for a stretch last year and signed Wily Caballero from Malaga this summer.
With the club into the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16, perhaps a title of that ilk would help him to the next level of keeper conversations. But the 48-times capped England keeper has two Premier League titles and is close to a bumper new contract. We doubt he’s losing any sleep.