Surely Manchester City Will Not Be Allowing Joe Hart to Leave for Liverpool?
To the external eye, the thought of Manchester City and Joe Hart parting company would seem bizarre.
While the England international has suffered dips in form in the past, he has also been one of the key components of the club's two Premier League triumphs in the past three seasons.
But Joe Bernstein of the Mail On Sunday mentioned a transfer to Liverpool is a possibility, with the Etihad Stadium club and Hart yet to speak about a new deal.
City have not been slow to offer new deals to key players such as Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Vincent Kompany in recent weeks, but there is still no word on the future of the goalkeeper, claims Bernstein.
The article quotes Hart as saying:
Anything about a new contract is news to me. I’ve heard nothing.
I’ve got a year, nearly two years, left on my deal. That is all I am aware of.
Whatever the reasoning behind the delay in negotiations with Hart, Bernstein threw a potential suitor into the mix: Liverpool.
The Reds have also been linked with former Barcelona No. 1 Victor Valdes, as Dominic King of the Daily Mail reported earlier this month.
But that deal is likely to hinge on the Spain international proving his fitness following the cruciate ligament injury he sustained with the Liga giants last season.
At 27, Hart is still, arguably, to reach his peak as a goalkeeper, which would make any transfer away from the Etihad Stadium somewhat bizarre.
It is true that Hart is facing greater competition for his first-team spot since Willy Caballero arrived at the club in the summer, but City manager Manuel Pellegrini has kept faith in his regular No. 1 so far this season.
But with Liverpool appearing to be in the market for a new goalkeeper, could Hart's future be 35 miles down the East Lancs road?
Believability Meter: Low
Manchester City surely won't be allowing Hart to run down his contract, which has less than two years remaining. It appears unthinkable, but stranger things have happened.
Hart also represents home-grown talent. which helps City with UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules, and despite the occasional slip, the goalkeeper has rarely let his team and Pellegrini down.
We expect Hart to be signing a new contract with City in the very near future.