Manchester City will step up contract talks with Joe Hart in a bid to fend off interest from Tottenham, reports the Manchester Evening News.

As boss Mark Hughes closes in on a deal to secure Richard Dunne's long-term future, his next priority is to hang on to England goalkeeper Hart, who signed a £5,000-a-week contract when he arrived at City from Shrewsbury as a back-up keeper in 2006.

But since then, he has established himself as the Blues' first-choice keeper, and made his full England debut in the friendly against Trinidad and Tobago two weeks ago.

The 21-year-old, who has two years left on his current deal, turned down an improved contract offer last month, but Hughes and executive chairman Garry Cook are determined to do all they can to persuade the keeper to sign up.