The Sunderland manager had the chance to sign the Manchester City man.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Sunderland manager David Moyes has claimed he turned down the chance to sign Joe Hart this summer because he was thinking of Jordan Pickford’s development.
The England number one was made available in the summer transfer window when Pep Guardiola made it clear he was not a part of his plans at Manchester City.
A number of Premier League clubs were linked with his signature as a result, with Sunderland among them.
He ended up leaving England, though, eventually joining Serie A side Torino on a season-long loan deal.
Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford celebrates after Patrick van Aanholt scores their first goal
Missing out on him has not ended up costing the Black Cats, who after a raft of injuries have seen youngster Jordan Pickford establish himself as number one at the club.
And Moyes says he took the decision not to sign Joe Hart as he had Pickford’s development in mind.
“When I arrived, Vito Mannone was probably the number one on experience but his injury meant we needed to turn to Jordan and he has stood up to all we’ve asked of him,” he told the Daily Mail.
“I could have brought in Joe Hart, we thought he would have been ideal for us, but I had to think of Jordan’s progression too and he hasn’t let us down.”
Manchester City’s Joe Hart during the warm up
Pickford currently finds himself alongside Hart in the England squad for the upcoming games against Scotland and Spain.
He is unlikely to earn his first cap just yet but if he continues his current impressive form, a first England start will not be long in coming.
And Moyes says he hopes the youngster becomes England’s number one in the coming years.
“Hopefully he will become England’s number one for the future, I don’t see why not, he has the attributes and if he keeps his attitude of working hard, he won’t go far wrong,” he added.
Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford
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