SEND FOR HART
Wenger’s weighing up move for keeper
ARSENAL are looking at Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart as they consider replacements for Petr Cech. Hart — at 29, five years younger than Cech — is on loan at Serie A side Torino and not part of Pep Guardiola’s plans at City.
With Hart’s career at the Etihad as good as over, and a £130,000-aweek contract that lasts until June 2019, City are open to offers for England’s No 1.
Hart is enjoying his time in Turin and has admirers abroad, but a return to England is his preferred option to ensure he remains in the thoughts of England manager Gareth Southgate.
Cech has been Arsenal’s firstchoice keeper since signing from Chelsea for £10million in 2015 but his days as their undisputed No 1 are coming to an end.
City’s readiness to sell to a Premier League rival for around £15m means Liverpool will keep a close eye on Hart’s situation this summer. Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have struggled for consistency and there were calls for Klopp to try to sign Hart in January, though his hands were tied. FIFA rules prevent players from appearing for three teams in a season and Hart had already played for City and Torino.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will wait until the summer to decide whether to sell Wojciech Szczesny or offer him a new contract. The 26-year-old is wanted by Roma, where he is spending a second season on loan, but has a contract with Arsenal until June 2018.
He has played in every Serie A game for the Italians this season, conceding 21 goals in 23 games, after making 42 appearances in all competitions last season.
Szczesny wants to return to North London to fight for his place, but Wenger’s search for a new keeper suggests he is ready to cash in on the Poland international.