REAL’S LIFELINE FOR EXILE HART
MANCHESTER United goalkeeper David de Gea is involved in a battle with Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois over who moves to Real Madrid this summer – with England No 1 Joe Hart in line to replace the winner.
Courtois has edged ahead of his United rival in the affections of Real manager Zinedine Zidane, with Chelsea willing to do business provided they can land striker Alvaro Morata from the Bernabeu.
But De Gea is determined not to let his dream move back to Madrid disappear for a second time and has made it clear to Jose Mourinho he wants to be allowed to leave Old Trafford.
The duel between him and Courtois has opened the door for Hart to get the move back to the Premier League that he wants after a season on loan with Serie A club Torino.
Hart, who turned 30 on Wednesday, is unwanted by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and the club will sell him for about £25 million. Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has had positive reports of Hart’s form from contacts in Turin, where he managed Juventus.
Although the Blues ideally want to keep Belgian international Courtois, he enjoyed playing in the Spanish capital with Atletico and will run down the final two years of his contract if Chelsea don’t let him go.
Hart is high on Chelsea’s shortlist as a replacement should they have to let Courtois leave.
Mourinho is also an admirer of Hart, preferring vocal goalkeepers who command their penalty area, to the keeper-sweepers coveted by Guardiola.
Though the move would raise eyebrows, it is unlikely to cause the same bad blood as Carlos Tevez’s switch in the opposite direction in 2009.
City fans are aware that Hart isn’t Guardiola’s type of goalkeeper rather than the player himself angling for a move.
Everton will also be looking for a new goalkeeper in the summer but having spent a season outside the Champions League, Hart will be keen to return to Europe’s top table.