CITY OPEN TO UNITED HART SWAP
MANCHESTER CITY are ready to allow Joe Hart to become the first Blues player in 21 years to join Manchester United – if their bitter rivals match their £30million valuation.
United have added Hart’s name to a list of potential summer targets should Real Madrid finally prise away David de Gea away from Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola has told Hart there will be no way back for him at the Etihad following his season-long loan at Torino.
And United view the 30-year-old as a potential replacement for De Gea.
Despite Hart being surplus to requirements, City will still look to charge as much as they can for the England No.1.
“Nothing will be ruled out with regard to Joe,” a City source said. “But we know there will be lots of interest from both home and abroad and we won’t accept anything less than the true market value.”
Goalkeeper Tony Coton was the last player to move from City to United, making a £500,000 switch in 1996.
Guardiola meanwhile believes Manchester City would have been unstoppable if he had been able to pair Jesus Gabriel with Sergio Aguero.
Jesus (above), a £27m signing from Palmeiras in January, is in line for his first start in 10 weeks at Middlesbrough today after returning as a substitute in the goalless Manchester derby in midweek following a broken metatarsal.
Guardiola hopes that the 20-year-old will ease the goalscoring burden on 29-goal Aguero at the business end of the season.
But the City boss can’t help wondering what might have been if the Brazilian had stayed fit.
Guardiola said: “I don’t know what would have happened this season if Jesus had been fit.
“I can only imagine. The other guys have done a lot.
“But I would like to have seen Sergio with another player to help take a lot of the pressure off.
“Jesus is the No.9 for Brazil. Everyone knows how good he is, how special. He will be here with us next season. He will help us.”