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Rafa Benitez is keen on doing a deal for Joe Hart this month.

The Newcastle boss was interested in signing the England keeper last summer but was beaten to him by West Ham.

But now Hart has lost his place to Spanish keeper Adrian at West Ham, Newcastle have made discreet enquiries again to see if they could get him now.

It would take West Ham, Hart’s parent club Manchester City and the 30-year-old keeper to agree to end his current loan to make it happen.

But Hart is on £120,000-a-week, despite West Ham paying a loan fee, it is a big chunk of West Ham’s wage bill and it remains to be seen whether they would think about letting him go.

(Image: REUTERS) (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Hart will be concerned that if he is not playing then he will lose his England place for next summer’s World Cup.

Newcastle are in the middle of takeover plans but Benitez is likely to be given funds to spend in January to ensure they do not go down.

West Ham are also interested in Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey who may be allowed to leave St James’s Park in January.