Alan Shearer has delivered his verdict on Joe Hart’s future at Manchester City and it may be of interest to fans of Liverpool and West Ham United.
One of Pep Guardiola’s first decisions when taking over at the Etihad was to get rid of the England goalkeeper.
Hart, a big personality in the City dressing room and a title winner, was shipped out on loan to Italian side Torino as the Spaniard signed Barcelona ‘keeper Bravo.
The rationale behind the decision was Guardiola’s preference for a ‘keeper who can play with his feet from the back.
Hart has been heavily linked with moves to Liverpool and West Ham in the summer.
Joe Hart is on loan at Torino
Slaven Bilic is likely to let former number one Adrian leave in the summer and the Daily Star claims the Hammers are favourites to make him a marquee signing.
Meanwhile at Anfield Jurgen Klopp has seen both Simon Mignolet and new young ‘keeper Loris Karius labelled not good enough for his title hopefuls and the Metro say the German boss has already made contact with the Blues about a potential move for the 29-year-old outcast.
Hart has been in superb form for Torino during a fine first half of the season for the Turin side while Bravo has struggled to adapt to life in the English top flight and has been the subject of ridicule from fans and pundits alike.
It has prompted many to suggest Guardiola may bring Hart back into the fold just when his time as a City player looked all but over.
But Shearer is not so sure, telling Coral he would be ‘amazed’ if that were the case.
Premier League and England legend Alan Shearer
“Every manager is entitled to make a decision on a goalkeeping situation like Guardiola did when he arrived at the club, and for whatever reason, Pep didn’t fancy Joe Hart,” Shearer told Coral.
“We don’t know if he spent any time with him but presumably he studied videos of the player and would have seen him play. What was clear though is he didn’t want him from the start as he did not even give him a chance. The problem is as far as Claudio Bravo is concerned, Pep has not brought a goalkeeper in who makes saves, which let’s face it is the first job a ‘keeper should be doing. I can’t remember at any point where he has pulled off a great stop.
“I know he changed his stance on Yaya Toure, but I’d be amazed if he was to give Joe Hart another chance at Manchester City. It would be pretty embarrassing for him and the football club if he was welcomed back and given another shot at it.”
A damning stat on Bravo’s performances emerged this week in the wake of City’s 4-0 humbling defeat to Everton at Goodison Park.
The Chilean has conceded 14 goals from the last 22 shots on target he has faced in the league.
It makes him officially the worst shot stopper in the league and some three clear of his next closest rival Artur Boruc of Bournemouth (11).
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