Aston Villa have been linked with Joe Hart but Newcastle would be mad not to move for the Manchester City goalkeeper themselves.
The future of Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart remains unknown, but in a surprising twist Aston Villa have been strongly linked with the 30-year-old by the Birmingham Mail.
Hart himself has admitted that he will be leaving the Etihad Stadium this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Pep Guardiola.
Manchester City’s Joe Hart celebrates at the end of the match
“I certainly don’t think they are going to try and price me out of a move, I think there’s enough respect between the player and club,” the England international told Sky Sports.
“We’re going to work together, there’s no point in working against. There is no animosity between the two. They are going in their direction and I need to go in mine.”
In that same interview Hart said he wants to be playing at “the highest possible level”, which would surely mean any Premier League club ahead of Villa?
According to the Daily Mail, both Newcastle United and West Ham United were keen on a loan move, but City are holding out for a permanent switch in the region of £18m.
It seems highly unlikely that the Villans – who are on the verge of breaching Financial Fair Play rules – have the money to fund that, but either way the Magpies would be foolish to allow Hart to slip through their grasp and into the Championship.
England’s Joe Hart during training
The Shields Gazette reports that Magpies boss Rafa Benitez is determined to sign a new ‘keeper this summer and despite Hart’s struggles on loan at Torino in 2016/17, he is still a hugely experienced two-time Premier League winner, with 71 caps for England and twice named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Surely the Citizens stopper is the ideal choice?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
