Since the arrival of Pep Guardiola to the Premier League, no other person has been affected more so than Joe Hart. The England’s number one had fallen out of favour after only a few training sessions under Pep. Willy Caballero started the first league game for the Citizens whereas Hart was given a chance in the Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest. It soon became clear that Hart was not getting fit in Guardiola’s plans which was made official when the custodian was sent to Torino on loan and Manchester City signed Claudio Bravo from FC Barcelona for £16 million.
But the season did not unfold kindly for any of Guardiola’s goalkeepers as the manager could not find the best between the two players that were at his disposal. Joe Hart too fizzled out after a good start as he made some crucial errors for Torino which led to the capital side dropping many points in the season. Recently, the Italian club confirmed that they cannot afford to sign the English international on a permanent basis because of the finances involved. Hart also reiterated his desire to return to his homeland for the next season to maintain his status as the number one choice for the Three Lions. Many clubs have registered interest in the City player but let us take a look at the three realistic options where Joe Hart could ply his trade in the next season:
Everton
When Hart’s loan deal was getting finalised, Everton were one of the clubs who were interested in taking him on board. But his wages became an issue back then as new manager Ronald Koeman decided to sign veteran Maarten Stekelenburg. The Toffees have also struggled with their goalkeeping options this season as Stekelenburg struggled with form in the first half of the season and Joel Robles was not up to the mark in the big games. Now with new owner Farhad Moshiri arriving on the scene, wages won’t be an issue anymore as Everton are expected to spend big this summer. Signing Joe Hart can be a statement of intent from the Toffees in their bid to challenge for the top four next season.
Crystal Palace
Sam Allardyce has been a huge fan of the goalkeeper since long which was evident during his short stint with the England national team. Allardyce had once said that he would love to work with Hart in the future as this summer offers the perfect opportunity for both the parties to get reunited. Palace have struggled this season but managed to survive relegation in the last months of the campaign. Wayne Hennessey has not been up to the mark as an upgrade is very much needed at the club. Hart can be a perfect signing for the Eagles as Allardyce would get a big name going into the next season and the player would play under a manager who has immense faith in him.
Bournemouth
This can be a far-fetched dream for the Cherries but after yet another impressive season, the Vitality stadium is managing to become an interesting destination in the Premier League. Manager Eddie Howe is one of the managers to look forward to and is known for his brilliant man management. Artur Boruc has committed many errors throughout the season as the club is crying out for a leader in a goalkeeper to maintain their status in the top 12 of the league table. Joe Hart would be a dream signing for Howe and the club as having an experienced national player can bring with him bags of potential and a hope for the coming seasons.