Manchester City boss Mark Hughes hopes to secure Richard Dunne to a new deal this week.

The Manchester Evening News says if Dunne puts pen to paper on a new long-term deal when he returns for pre-season training next week, it will represent one of the most remarkable contractual turnarounds in recent Blues history.

And it is a sign of Hughes' remarkable powers of persuasion that he is winning the battle to keep the Irishman at Eastlands.

It was only four weeks ago that Dunne appeared to have one foot out of the City door as Portsmouth nudged Tottenham, Newcastle and Sunderland aside in the race to sign him.