After Everton agree a deal for Sunderland’s Jordan Pickford, is Joe Hart’s best move from Manchester City to join West Ham?
England’s Joe Hart
Not only is Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford expected to threaten Joe Hart’s position as England number one, but he has now scuppered any potential move to Everton for the Manchester City outcast.
The BBC has reported that the Toffees have agreed a deal with the Black Cats to sign Pickford for £30m over the summer, seemingly ending previous speculation from the Liverpool Echo (among others) that they would sign Hart.
The 30-year-old spent the 2016/17 season on loan at Torino in Italy, but has admitted that he now needs a permanent move away from the Etihad Stadium.
“I need an offer first and then I need to work out my options if I have choices,” Hart was quoted by the BBC.
“I’m not a kid any more. I can’t just pack my stuff like a 19, 17-year-old and go on loan. I am a 30-year-old man with stuff I need to organise. I like stability.
“I certainly don’t think they [City] are going to try and price me out of a move.”
England’s Joe Hart
Hart went on to say he needs to be playing at the “top level” to keep his England place, something he would have been doing more than any other English stopper if he had moved to Europa League club Everton.
However, now his options seem more limited, although the Metro has reported that Liverpool, Manchester United and West Ham United are still all interested in the Citizens ‘keeper.
The former two will be playing in the Champions League next term, but Juergen Klopp has previously dismissed any move from the Reds for Hart.
Torino’s Joe Hart in action
“It is not for us in this moment and hopefully not for us in the future – not because of Joe – but we already have two strong goalkeepers,” Klopp told the Liverpool Echo.
Man United, meanwhile, already have David De Gea (who has been named in the PFA Team of the Year for three consecutive seasons) in their ranks and even if he were to leave, Argentina international Sergio Romero has proven himself to be a more than capable deputy.
That leaves the Hammers, who after finishing 11th last campaign and with no European football may not be Hart’s first choice, but at this stage it looks almost certain to be the best on offer.
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