City ready to seek Hart return to solve keeper crisis
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Manchester City are considering an attempt to secure their goalkeeper Joe Hart's early return from his year-long loan deal at Birmingham City as one of a number of options if the Premier League's expected approval of an emergency loan deal is forthcoming today.
Also among the three or four options the club haves lined up is a move for Marton Fulop from Sunderland, to take over from the injured Shay Given on an emergency loan deal until the end of the season. But a move for Hart, which would be dependent on Birmingham agreeing to his release, would appear to be the most satisfactory for the City manager, Roberto Mancini, after the 23-year-old secured the goalkeeping accolade in the PFA player of the year awards on Sunday night.
Tottenham Hotspur, City's closest rivals in the pursuit of fourth place in the Premier League and their opponents at Eastlands in nine days' time, did not offer any response to the news that the Premier League is prepared to agree to the emergency deal, and appeared ready to let the issue ride – though that was before Hart's name entered the equation.
City are hoping that, if they make a move for Hart, he will be attracted by the idea of three high-profile matches at a time when he seeking to prove his worth to the England manager, Fabio Capello. There is also a hope that Birmingham, who cannot improve their position in the Premier League even if winning their last two fixtures, would not object to the early return of a player City are expecting back for next season in any case.
Mancini made it clear this month that he sees Hart as a part of the goalkeeping set-up next season. "We have a very good goalkeeper at the club in Shay Given. Shay and Joe Hart are two of the best in the Premier League, and it is important to have two good goalkeepers," he said. "The Premier League season is long, and if you are playing in the Champions League as well as the FA Cup and the League Cup, then you need the players – you need two top goalkeepers." But Hart is reportedly uncertain about the prospect of returning to the position of understudy once again.
City's official request to the Premier League, backed up with medical statements, appears to have satisfied the administrators that Gunnar Nielsen, the club's third-choice, does not constitute a first-team squad keeper.
The league also appears to accept that Stuart Taylor is unable to turn out for the club, having returned to training this week after exploratory laparoscopic surgery on his knee. The league's criterion for an emergency loan deal to be agreed is that there must be no cover in the first-team squad.
Fulop has fallen behind Craig Gordon and Trevor Carson at Sunderland. Another option may be Nicky Weaver, the former City and England Under-21 keeper who is understudy at Burnley.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments