Joe Hart might be surplus to requirements at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, but he is still a wanted man, with The Times reporting that Southampton and Wolverhampton Wanderers are both keen on the 31-year-old.
It’s been a bad season for Hart, with the experienced goalkeeper left out of Gareth Southgate‘s England squad for the 2018 World Cup while having an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola made it clear that Hart had no plans in his first-team which led to the 31-year-old spending the last two seasons out on loan at Torino and West Ham United. His deal with City expires next year, so an exit is coming this summer or next.
Southampton may be more likely to sign the Englishman, as he would be an improvement on their current options.
Fraser Forster, who had once been touted to become Hart’s successor in an England shirt, lost his place to Alex McCarthy and could reportedly be sold this summer. McCarthy has a lot of interest in his signature too.
Wolves are also keen, but it would take something special to replace John Ruddy from the side. The ex-Everton and Norwich ‘keeper was recently named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo will be on the lookout for more depth, as Nigerian Carl Ikeme continues to fight acute leukaemia, but Hart would surely be against joining a club where he is not guaranteed first-team football.
In any event, it seems highly unlikely the 31-year-old will see out the last year of his contract at City and be their third choice next season, particularly as he’s hoping to resurrect his international career to make England’s Euro 2020 squad.