Richard Keys likes West Ham United’s Joe Hart, but disagrees with the loan system.
Richard Keys has written in his blog that although the signing of Joe Hart represents a “great piece of business” for West Ham United, he believes it is wrong that loanees typically do not face their parent clubs in the Premier League.
West Ham pulled off quite a coup in the summer by signing the 30-year-old goalkeeper on a season-long loan from Manchester City.
The Irons travel to Eastlands on December 2 and Hart is likely to be contractually obliged to sit that one out.
And Keys argues that the Premier League should either stipulate that loan players can face their parent club, or just “simply stop the arrangement altogether”.
The former Sky Sports presenter believes it is wrong that Hart can potentially scupper other team’s chances of the title whilst boosting City’s in the process.
“West Ham haven’t broken any rules taking Joe Hart on loan, in fact they’ve done a great piece of business,” he wrote on his blog.
“But it’s still wrong that Hart can have the effect on the title race that he will be keeping goal for The Hammers against all the challengers – except City.
“There are two solutions – let the loanees play against their parent club – or simply stop the arrangement altogether. I’d do the latter.”
Chelsea have five players on loan at Premier League clubs, Manchester United and City have one, while Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal have none.
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