ENGLAND’S HART HEADS FOR HAMMERS ON LOAN
WEST HAM are close to agreeing a deal to sign England goalkeeper Joe Hart from Manchester City. Hart will initially move on a season-long loan, with West Ham having the option at the end of the 12 months to make his signing permanent. It represents quite a coup for manager Slaven Bilic, who saw off competition from Newcastle for the 30-year-old. Crucially, West Ham have agreed to pay over half of his £100,000-a-week salary. Hart spent last season on loan at Torino after falling out of favour when Pep Guardiola took over at City. He returned to pre-season training at City but there is no hope of kick-starting his career there.
WEST HAM are on the brink of providing Joe Hart with a route back into the Premier League. The England goalkeeper’s future has been the subject of huge speculation but West Ham believe they have done enough to thrash out a deal with Manchester City.
Hart will initially move to the London Stadium on a season-long loan with West Ham having the option at the end of the 12 months to make his signing permanent.
Newcastle had made the first enquiries for Hart at the end of the last campaign, with manager Rafa Benitez speaking directly to City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain over the 30-year- old, as well as Eliaquim Mangala, Fernando and Kelechi Iheanacho.
But Newcastle’s proposal was a season- long loan without a permanent option and, crucially, they were only prepared to cover 25 per cent of his wages, with City making up the shortfall. That was not an option for City, who initially said they would only consider selling Hart for £20million.
West Ham, however, have agreed a deal that will see them pay over 50 per cent of his salary — which is more than £100,000 per week — and then have the option to buy him in the summer of 2018.
Hart returned to training at City but there’s no hope of resurrecting his career in Manchester under Pep Guardiola, with City having spent £45m to sign Ederson.
West Ham’s move for Hart places the future of the club’s two current keepers in the balance. Adrian is wanted by Crystal Palace, with new boss Frank de Boer looking to replace Steve Mandanda, who has returned to Marseille.
Darren Randolph is the subject of interest from Middlesbrough.
West Ham’s move for Villarreal forward Cedric Bakumbu, meanwhile, is over. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic was keen on the Congo international but the 26-year-old used West Ham’s interest to agree a new deal with Villarreal.
On a busy day at the London Stadium, forward Enner Valencia has left to join Mexican club Tigres UANL. The 27-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Everton, has moved for an undisclosed fee. THE mother of Rio and Anton Ferdinand, Janice St Fort, died yesterday aged just 58 after a battle with cancer. A statement from the family said: ‘We are heartbroken to announce that our amazing mum Janice passed away.
‘She was an inspiration to us all and was loved by everyone.
‘She died at Guy’s Cancer Unit, London Bridge Hospital, with her loving husband Peter and us, her four children, at her bedside. She was a devoted mother to us all, and she was the most incredible grandmother to our children. The whole family are devastated.’