It’s been years now since Manchester United have enjoyed the superior status in the Premier league as well across Europe, as Manchester City are slowly but steadily taking over the mantle. There has been a definite seismic shift in the city and if United don’t pull their socks up anytime soon, the Sky Blues will finish above them this season too.
Though United have resorted to similar measures like their arch rivals, of late, to regain the stature under Mourinho, by spending maddeningly, it seems to be taking longer than expected. United are close to touching City in the league table at the moment with just one point separating them and with two more games to go, and it will surely go down to the wire this season.
New Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, is surely at the risk of angering the fanbase if United overtake them this season, and if reports are to believed, he could commit a much bigger mistake by selling Joe Hart to Manchester United this summer. Yes, City are considering selling Hart if United are ready to pay a whopping £30 million for him.
United are close to selling off their first-choice goalkeeper, David De Gea, to La Liga giants Real Madrid in the summer with James Rodriguez coming in return, and they would need an efficient player to replace the Spaniard under the bar. Guardiola has gotten many things wrong this season, tactics and team selection wise, and the biggest of them was loaning off the 30-year-old to Torino at the first chance.
Hart’s deputy, Claudio Bravo, had a less than impressive season, costing City many points and now with him out injured, second-choice Willy Caballero has taken charge. But Hart remains the safest pair of hands for City since breaking into the first-team in 2010, conceding just 347 goals in 348 games, averaging less than a goal per game.
And now with him available in the market, many Premier League clubs are vying for his signature. While £30 million will be a bit too much to ask for, United might take their chances given the quality at stake. Guardiola has put him out of his grand plans and isn’t willing to give him any chance despite his side struggling terribly in that position.
Hart hasn’t had the best of seasons with Torino for obvious reasons and he would definitely not fancy staying in Italy after for another campaign. An academy product of Shrewsbury, City had bought him back in 2006, and he has since then spent loan stints with many clubs like Tranmere Rovers, Blackpool, Birmingham City and now Torino. He also has 70 caps for England. And if he moves to Old Trafford, it will be the first time in more than a decade that the clubs have swapped players directly.
