Big things come at a big price. When Manchester City announced that Pep Guardiola would become their next manager, everybody knew that a few star players at the Etihad will become casualties to the big transition. While we expected players like Navas, Toure, Sterling, Nasri, Mangala to become the unlucky casualties, it’s looking highly likely that we were wrong. The first player making his way out of the club could be one of the fans’ most favourite players Joe Hart, a player who has been at the club for 10 long years.
According to The Daily Mail, Everton are looking to secure an initial loan deal for Manchester City’s out-of-favour goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is believed to be ‘weighing up his future’. ESPN claims that new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola wants a goalkeeper who is comfortable with his feet and Hart does not fit his bills. The Citizens have been linked with a move for Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen throughout the summer but being too expensive, they have finally settled for another Barcelona keeper Claudio Bravo.
With Chilean international Bravo looking all set to join Manchester City, Hart is looking to move and The Daily Mail claims Everton are looking to use this opportunity to bring the England number one. Hart, 29, has been City’s first-choice goalkeeper for the last six years and has racked up almost 350 appearances for the club having signed from Shrewsbury Town back in 2006.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dropped goalkeeper Joe Hart in favour of Willy Caballero for his opening Premier League game against Sunderland on August 13. / AFP / OLI SCARFF / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images)
With over 100 Premier League clean sheets, Hart holds the record for the most Premier League Golden Glove awards (four) and has amassed 63 international caps since his debut in 2008. Even though Everton have already signed Maarten Stekelenburg this summer having worked with manager Ronald Koeman at Ajax and Southampton, the 33-year-old does not look like a long-term replacement for Tim Howard.
Just aged 29, Hart can still offer his best to Everton for at least five years if not more. He has been a bit inconsistent over the years and lost his place at Manchester City a few times but getting the signature of the first-choice England keeper would be a major statement of intent from Everton who are looking for bigger and better things in the future.
An excellent shot-stopper, absolutely invincible on his day, Hart despite not being a sweeper keeper, has been touted as one of the best in the world time and time again. He has a point to prove now after being shown the exit door from Etihad and Everton could be the gaining side from this. It will one hell of a deal from the Toffees and will be a massive boost to the club’s big ambitions.
