MANCHESTER CITY will step up efforts to prise Shay Given away from St James’ Park by launching an improved third offer for the Newcastle United goalkeeper within 48 hours.

After being rebuffed in their attempts to land the Republic of Ireland’s No 1 on two occasions, the Magpies’ resolve will be seriously tested.

And, in a telling development, Steve Harper was offered a three-year contract over the weekend, suggesting that the Magpies are finally willing to sell Given.

City have already made two bids amounting to £3m and £5m and Newcastle are expecting a substantially improve offer from Eastlands before the clubs face one another on Wednesday night.

Magpies manager Joe Kinnear has been unable to invest the £8m handed to him by the club’s owner Mike Ashley so far this month and the cash raised from selling Given would come in handy.

It promises to be a difficult week for Kinnear, whose constant insistence that Newcastle’s long-serving goalkeeper would not be sold could come into question.

Harper – who has also been the subject of interest from Tottenham this month – could finally be installed as the first choice goalkeeper at St James’ Park.

City manager Mark Hughes wants Given and, backed by the club’s billionaire owners from the Middle East, he has advised the money-men to get the deal done before February 2.

There have been suggestions that Hughes would be willing to offload midfielder Michael Johnson or versatile England Under-21 defender Nedum Onouha in an attempt to tempt Newcastle.

But neither player is thought to be keen on moving full-time, with loan deals until the end of the season more likely arrangements.

That would at least go some way to sorting Kinnear’s problems. He is looking to add a midfielder and a defender to his ranks to strengthen Newcastle’s push for Premier League survival.

City are clear favourites to land Given after Tottenham admitted defeat.

Spurs are not in a position to compete with the finances on offer in Manchester and would also struggle to match his wages.

City’s next offer is likely to be between £7m and £10m.

Newcastle are two points above the relegation zone and a defeat could see them drop into the bottom three.

But they expect to have Steven Taylor involved from the start after proving his fitness after calf trouble.