Alex McLeish has confirmed that Blues have been in touch with Joe Hart's parent club Manchester City about taking the goalkeeper on loan for another season.

England international Hart has been one of Blues' most consistent performers this season and McLeish has credited the 22-year-old England international with saving Blues numerous points already this season.

With Manchester City having top Irish international Shay Given as their number one, Hart would most likely have to play a back-up role should he return to the North West.

"We'd definitely like to keep Joe here for another season because he's easily saved us more than ten or 12 points already this season," said the Blues boss.

"There's no movement at the moment, but we intend to speak to Joe, his father and his in the coming weeks and I believe the club has made contact with Man City to try and get a meeting to see where they see Joe's future next season.

"It's a massively important position for us and that's why I would hopefully like to get City's nod of approval that they'll let Joe come here again next season, so that we know what we're doing.

"I do need to make my plans and doing it at the lastminute.com doesn't help us. If it doesn't happen then we're always looking at players for a 'Plan B'.

"If they say 'look it's going to take until the last minute Alex, but the answer will be a positive' then we'll do it.

"But it would be nice to know what City's thoughts are but I guess Mancini and the coaching staff have got to have a good think about that as well.

"If they're in the Champions League they may need two top class goalkeepers, although they would have to contend with two number ones and that can sometimes be difficult."