Everton no longer want to sign Hart
JOE HART has been warned by England manager Sam Allardyce that he needs to sort out his club future – and that will come as a blow for the Manchester City goalkeeper after Everton yesterday cooled their interest in signing him.
Everton had considered a move for the 29-year-old but have now decided against trying to bring Hart in before the transfer window closes.
That reduces the options for Hart, who was keen to secure a loan move within the Premier League rather than pursue a move abroad. Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund are thought to be his only other options.
Allardyce intends going to see City boss Pep Guardiola to try to understand his reservations about England’s No 1 keeper, with the club on the brink of completing the £17million signing of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.
Hart’s club snub follows criticism for his blunders for England in their matches against Wales and Iceland in Euro 2016 and leaves Allardyce with a problem for the World Cup qualifier in Slovakia on September 4.
The obvious replacement, Jack Butland, has suffered a setback in his comeback from the ankle injury that ruled him out of the Euros.
Allardyce said: “It’s a difficult decision in the goalkeeping area. It’s one I could have done without. Joe will be in this squad but it’s absolutely critical in the long term that he is playing regularly. Maybe not if it’s a short period of time.
“If he is out of the team for a longer period it’s difficult to select them, based on how they feel, never mind from the training point of view. Can they go and play at that level having not played for their own team for a considerable amount of time? It is a concern.
“I’ll speak to Joe when he joins us and if I can get the chance to go and see Pep I’d like to listen to him.” While Hart, who will be on the bench again for City’s Champions League play-off round second leg against Steaua Bucharest tomorrow, has been on a downer this season, Allardyce has been encouraged by the rejuvenation of his City team-mate Raheem Sterling.
And he thinks Sterling will be a better player for coming through a torrid spell in his career for club and country.
“Was it the challenge of the large fee?” said Allardyce. “Was it going to City for the first time and life being a little bit more difficult than he thought and a loss of confidence?
“It means that if Pep has got him over that glitch, he should be a much better player from now on.
“If his talent begins to blossom again then great. He’s not at the peak of his career yet – he’s still only 21. He’s a terrific talent.”