Report: Everton bids for Hart as Bravo nears City arrival
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Everton has apparently made an approach for Manchester City misfit Joe Hart, with the cost of securing a permanent move believed to be in excess of £20 million.
A season-long loan of the goalkeeper remains a possibility, though, as Hart's sudden availability has vaulted him ahead of Sporting Lisbon's Rui Patricio on the Toffees' wishlist, according to The Telegraph's Simon Hughes.
Hart's replacement in Eastlands has already been identified, with Claudio Bravo's switch from Barcelona nearing completion. Acquiring the 33-year-old Chilean could come at the princely sum of £17 million.
Related: Barcelona allows Bravo to join Manchester City
Borussia Dortmund is another party reportedly interested in Hart, with the Bundesliga club seeking a long-term replacement for Roman Weidenfeller and someone to step ahead of Roman Burki as the first-choice goalkeeper. The fee could be too much for Dortmund, however, potentially opening the door for Hart's move to Merseyside instead.
Hart, 29, has been with City since transferring from his hometown club Shrewsbury Town in 2006, and has been the preferred choice between the sticks for both club and country for six years. But amid suggestions that new manager Pep Guardiola was unimpressed with his ball control and distribution, Hart has warmed the bench for the first three matches of the season, and has been told he can leave.
"Yes, of course," Guardiola responded on Friday when asked if he would let the England No. 1 depart.
"I want happiness for the players. I don't want the players to stay here if they don't want to stay."
In Hart's stead, Willy Caballero has been donning the gloves for Guardiola.
The jettisoned fan favourite should find a seamless route into the starting XI at Everton. Maarten Stekelenburg has performed well in the club's first two matches of the season, but boss Ronald Koeman has admitted to wanting to bolster his goalkeeping options earlier this week. Beyond Stekelenburg and Joel Robles, the side would have to turn to untested, young talent, while there are legitimate concerns over the senior pair due to their familiarity with bit-part roles over much of their careers.
Everton next faces Yeovil Town on Tuesday in the League Cup, but City enjoys an extra day off before it welcomes Steaua Bucharest to the Etihad Stadium boasting a 5-0 advantage from the first leg of their Champions League play-off.