Joe Hart is prepared to quit Manchester City and make a switch abroad once again next summer in an effort to reignite his career. According to recent reports in the English media, the 30-year-old is willing to make a move abroad in search of greener pastures after struggling during his time at West Ham United this season. He has endured a torrid time with the Hammers following his demotion to the bench during his loan spell at the East London club.
Hart has fallen behind the pecking order in the England national team with the 2018 FIFA World Cup looming on the horizon. Both Jack Butland and Jordan Pickford are currently ahead of him in Gareth Southgate’s plans for the World Cup, which kicks off in Russia later this year. The Manchester City keeper is currently set to spend the remainder of the campaign at the London Stadium and will have a year left on his £120,000-a-week contract with the Citizens next summer. It is understood that the English keeper is happy to run down the rest of his City contract by going on a year-long loan spell to a European club.
The Shrewsbury born player enjoyed a year in Torino prior to his move to West Ham United and is eager to head back to the Continent. For now, it is expected that he will run down his deal before leaving the Manchester outfit on a free transfer in the summer of 2019.
A source close to Manchester City was reported to have said, “Joe will do what is right for him and his young family.
“He long accepted his Man City career is over and values playing above everything else.
“There is still some chatter Liverpool, Arsenal or Chelsea could be interested but he’s been around long enough not to be waiting by the phone.
“He loved his experience of playing on the Continent and wouldn’t rule anything out at this stage.”
The Citizens are currently leading the Premier League table with a tally of 72 points in 27 league matches. They are firmly in the driver’s seat as they look to earn another league title at the top tier of English football with a staggering 16 point lead over their crosstown rivals Manchester United. Pep Guardiola’s side are still participating in four different competitions, having already secured qualification to the final of the Carabao Cup while also going through into the fifth round draw of the FA Cup.
City boasts the likes of Ederson and Claudio Bravo as their goalkeeping options who have both impressed during the course of this season. The departure of Hart will not be a worry for them at all as they look to strengthen other areas of their squad this summer. A potential move abroad for Hart will undoubtedly improve his chances of playing regular first-team football going into the future. Only time will tell what lies ahead in the future of the English keeper and whether he ends up leaving England next summer in search of more playing time.
