Despite being frozen out at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, Joe Hart should have no shortage of takers when his loan deal at Torino expires, with Sunderland, Everton and Liverpool all possible destinations for the England number one.
When Pep Guardiola decided to replace Joe Hart with Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo it became abundantly clear that the Englishman’s ten-years of service at Manchester City was over. Hart, capped 66 times by his country, opted for a loan move to Italian side Torino rather than a permanent move away from the club. However – barring a change of stance from Guardiola – Hart will have an important decision to make regarding his long-term future at the end of the 2016-17 Serie A campaign.
Hart, who produced a marvellous individual performance for England against Slovenia, should attract plenty of interest in the coming months, but will carefully consider his next career move.
Recent reports have suggested that Chelsea may be a possible destination for Hart, who has also been tipped to end up at Arsenal. However, the assumptions that the former will sell Real Madrid linked Thibaut Courtois, and that the latter are looking to replace 34-year-old Petr Cech, makes signing Hart unlikely for both clubs.
Joe Hart was in top form for England against Slovenia
Here are three clubs, however, who could well be interested in offering Joe Hart the perfect permanent home:
Sunderland
The prerequisite for Joe Hart’s next club will be assurance of regular first team football. At Sunderland, where rookie Jordan Pickford has been elevated to first choice keeper, Hart will be guaranteed not only a permanent fixture between the posts but also plenty of action behind a Sunderland rear guard that routinely look vulnerable. For defensively renowned manager David Moyes, signing Hart would act as a huge step in reforming the back line. Hart’s shot-stopping, all-action game could thrive on Wearside and the two may form an ideal match. However, whether Joe Hart would be prepared to sign for a club regularly battling at the bottom end of the Premier League remains to be seen.
Could Joe Hart (left) join Jordan Pickford (centre) at Sunderland?
Everton
Rather than Sunderland, a more likely preference for Joe Hart could be a move to the blue side of Merseyside. Before the summer transfer window closed Everton were reportedly interested in the services of Hart but, regardless of their reported new-found fortunes from investor Farhad Moshiri, were halted by the suggestion of a £7 million loan fee. Toffees’ manager Ronald Koeman’s first signing upon taking charge at Goodison was Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg – who, despite his fine recent form, was earmarked as a second-choice goalkeeper. Any potential signing of Hart would only improve Everton’s resilience in a defensive unit that includes Ashley Williams, Phil Jagielka, Seamus Coleman and Leighton Baines – currently with the second lowest number of goals conceded in the top flight.
Joe Hart’s Manchester City career looks to be over
Liverpool
Liverpool’s summer acquisition of Loris Karius was seen by many as a sign that Simon Mignolet’s impact on the first team would diminish. Belgian Mignolet has been much maligned during his time at Anfield, and although the former Sunderland stopper currently has the best penalty save record in Premier League history, it is widely believed that he is not trusted or good enough to be Liverpool’s number 1.
In signing Joe Hart, Liverpool would be getting a top quality goalkeeper who has a proven track record of successful Premier League campaigns. He would potentially provide the stability and trust that many Liverpool fans have been craving for since the days of Pepe Reina, and there’s also a high possibility that Hart’s ability as a shot-stopper would endear himself to the Kop almost immediately. For Hart, a move to one of England’s most successful and historic clubs would not only maintain his drive to play at the top level of domestic and European football, but provide him with the ideal platform to prove his doubters wrong.
Joe Hart was popular amongst Manchester City supporters – could Anfield be his new home?
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