Joe Hart risks placing his career in limbo by staying at Manchester City as a back-up goalkeeper, despite knowing that doing so will threaten his status as England's No1. Barcelona's Claudio Bravo was pictured arriving at Manchester Airport on Tuesday afternoon with a view to finalising a deal to become Hart's replacement for a fee of around £17m (€19.8m).
The 33-year-old Chilean will not sign in time to be selected for City's Champions League play-off game against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday night but could go straight into the team for the match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Barça are close to signing Jasper Cillessen from Ajax to replace Bravo.
Hart, 29, remains open to all options but, with only a week to the close of the summer transfer window, he is yet to receive an offer that is considered suitable for his long-term career. A potential loan move to Everton broke down after City refused to subsidise any of his salary, with the Merseyside club unwilling to pay his £135,000-a-week (€157,000) wage.
Everton are determined this stance will remain until the transfer deadline passes at 11pm on August 31st, so, unless City change their position, Hart may have to stay at the club. With the Everton manager, Ronald Koeman, telling Maarten Stekelenburg he signed him to be the No1, Hart would not be guaranteed to start even if he did agree to move. Yet in staying at City he will in effect be third choice, behind Bravo and Willy Caballero.
On Monday Sam Allardyce said Hart would be in his first England squad, to be announced this Sunday, but was clear that the goalkeeper – as with any player – would have to play regularly if he is to be part of the squad on a consistent basis.
Allardyce said: “In the end it is critical [that a player is playing]. If it’s a short period of time, maybe not – they come back in the team and everything goes fine.
“If it goes for a longer period, then it’s difficult to select them, based on how they feel – never mind from a training point of view – and to know can they go and play at that level having not played for their own team for a considerable amount of time.So it is a concern.”
Hart is aware of this. Despite potentially not even being in match-day squads, he has accepted a move may not be possible until the January window, at the earliest. Pep Guardiola dropped Hart because he believes the keeper is not accomplished enough with his feet and, speaking before the game against Steaua, the manager outlined precisely why this attribute is vital.
“I grew up from 13 years old [WHEN A PLAYER]with that. Every time we make a good buildup, we create a chance or two chances, the transitions [ARE]quickly and we moved the ball again [QUICK],” he said. “That is why I insist to the players how important it is. But it is a process, so we need time to get better about our goalkicks, about our buildup or four in the back or three in the back.
“This is not a romantic issue. It is because when you create a good buildup our forward players receive the ball in better conditions and that is the reason why. Have the ball is not because have the ball for have the ball. It is for one reason – to create more chances and concede few.”
Guardiola said Hart could make a first appearance of the season against Steaua, with City holding a 5-0 advantage in the play-off tie. “Hart and Yaya Touré have a chance to play tomorrow,” said Guardiola, who was seen in conversation with the goalkeeper at a training session on Tuesday. “I have an excellent relationship with Joe. We are clear – him with me, I with him. We spoke about football.”
Regarding Bravo, Guardiola said: “So I can’t deny what everybody knows. Barcelona were the first ones to announce contact with Manchester City. But I’m sorry guys, until the deal is complete or not complete I can’t speak but at the moment the player is not our player. Until August 31st all the players here are my players and I will work with them like there is no end, so after that we can speak about everything.
“The situation with Joe I spoke about in the last two press conferences. I am not able to speak about negotiations.”
Regarding Bacary Sagna, who is believed to have hurt a hamstring, he said: “Sagna is not available. Against West Ham it is not possible for him to play either. Maybe at Old Trafford [against Manchester United on September 10th].”
(Guardian service)
