West Ham United have announced the signing of Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart.
The Hammers have been chasing Hart all summer after Slaven Bilic lost patience with the indifferent performances of Adrian and Darren Randolph last season.
And after intense media speculation over the last two weeks the East Londoners finally got their man on Tuesday, as announced by the club’s official website.
West Ham and England’s Joe Hart
All the reports leading up to the official confirmation had stated that Hart was being signed on loan with an option to buy next summer, as reported by the likes of The Telegraph.
But that crucial element of the deal has been omitted in both West Ham and Manchester City’s announcements.
A loan with the option to buy is a deal structure favoured by Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
So it was rather glaring that the deal seemingly does not include the option to make Hart’s move a permanent one.
Of course the two clubs could have a gentleman’s agreement in place behind closed doors.
West Ham United owners David Gold and David Sullivan
But if they don’t then it leaves West Ham in a situation where they might now sell Adrian or Randolph and Hart could have a superb season but end up leaving on a permanent move elsewhere next year.
It also smacks of short-termism from the Hammers who have only signed ageing defender Pablo Zabaleta – who turns 33 next season – on a free transfer.
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