The 21-year-old has just signed a new five-year deal at Eastlands but is well aware the club's new-found wealth means no-one's position is safe.

Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon and his Spain counterpart Iker Casillas are among the names who have been linked with City, but Hart insists he does not let the rumours affect him.

He said: "There's so much speculation around this club. But if you listened to it you would be lost. You would make yourself dizzy.

"With a new manager, everything starts again. The clock starts from zero. But I see it as a challenge - and a positive challenge at that.

"I'm still playing now so I'm happy with how it's gone. I'm not really worried. There's nothing I can really do about it.

"Obviously, they want competition at the club but it's out of my hands really. I just want to keep playing. There's not just talk of Buffon. There's talk of anyone.

"There's Casillas, too. You can name anyone who's good and he will be linked with City.

"If there's any truth in it all, I don't know. I have just got to carry on playing and see how it all pans out."