West Bromwich Albion are keen to sign Burnley goalkeeper Joe Hart this summer and reunite him with Slaven Bilic at the Hawthorns, according to The Sun (29 June, page 61).
At the age of 33, time is running out for a man who has suffered a Fernando Torres-esque fall from grace in English football.
Hart has never been the same since he was left on the seat of his pants by an Andrea Pirlo Panenka six years ago, with a man who could conceivably have been named the world’s best goalkeeper at Manchester City unable to even buy a game these days at Turf Moor.
But despite making just three appearances all season for the Clarets, The Sun reports that Hart still has plenty of offers on the table with his contract due to expire in July.
Bilic saw Hart up close during their time together at West Ham in 2017 and, three years on, a reunion is on the cards.
The West Brom boss wants competition for Sam Johnstone between the sticks and the 75-cap England international could be offered yet another fresh start in the Midlands.
“Has he become an easy target? Yes. The guy is brilliant,” Bilic told the Mirror three years ago. “He is a great professional and a top pro.”
The Sun adds that West Brom face competition for Hart’s signature from another promotion-chasing Championship outfit.
And it’s fair to say Derby County have a track record when it comes to bringing some rather big names to Pride Park, with Wayne Rooney inspiring a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for a previously underperforming Rams.
Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard also made shock moves to the East Midlands last season.
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