City offer axed Given new deal
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Say you'll stay, Shay: Manchester City offer axed Given new deal
New deal: City want Given to stay at Eastlands
Manchester City will try to soften the blow of Shay Given's relegation to the bench by offering the goalkeeper a pay rise and the chance to stay at Eastlands until he turns 39.
Joe Hart's man-of-the match performance in the season opener at Tottenham has placed Given in the role of back-up keeper, a situation which has left the 34-year-old considering his future.
But City will try to entice the former Newcastle keeper to stay by extending his current deal - it has three years left to run - by a further two seasons. Given is also set for an increase on his £80,000- a-week wage packet.
It remains to be seen if he will be tempted by the offer. But having spoken of his desire for guaranteed first-team football, a loan move to Fulham could be his preferred option.
The Irishman finds himself at the centre of a goalkeeping merry-go-round, with Arsenal eager to sign Fulham's Mark Schwarzer.
On his way: Schwarzer is set to sign for Arsenal
Given would offer manager Mark Hughes the ideal replacement for Schwarzer but, as yet, the west London side have not received an improved offer from Arsenal after rejecting a £2million bid.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is expected to raise that by a further £500,000 this week although Fulham value Schwarzer at around £4m.
Wenger could, of course, opt to move for Given. But, as is the case with Tottenham's interest in Craig Bellamy, City are unwilling to offload players to their direct rivals for a place in the top four.
The uncertainty over the goalkeeping situation at the Emirates is having a negative effect on Manuel Almunia, who played for Arsenal in the 1-1 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
Revealing his unrest at the speculation, Almunia said: 'It is so difficult to concentrate because Arsenal are a big club and speculation is always in the news and everywhere. 'If somebody comes in, I will have to talk about my future at Arsenal.'
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Alumunia is actually not bad - he just need to cut down on the amount of howlers he make whenever he plays. :)
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wow, even a reject can get so much dough!! conventional wisdom is to stay, 5 years on about £100,000 weekly would be £20 mil or $42 mil....that's astronomical....
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y not Arsenal loan Joe Hart for one season
....