Chelsea may look to sign Manchester City flop Joe Hart, should number one keeper Thibaut Courtois leave in the summer.
According to a Daily Express exclusive by Neil Fissler, Chelsea will make Manchester City’s Joe Hart their prime goalkeeping target should current number one Thibaut Courtois move to the Santiago Bernabeu to join forces with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.
In January this year, Real were handed a two-year transfer ban by FIFA due to breaching the rules and regulations of the registration of players under the age of 18. However, after making an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the Spanish club saw it reduced to just one year.
This means that Los Blancos are now permitted to sign players at the end of this season and have been linked with Chelsea’s number one. The La Liga giants have been looking to sign a quality keeper since the departure of Iker Casillas, and after failing to sign David de Gea from Manchester United, they have now turned their attentions to Courtois.
The Belgian has reportedly told his teammates that he is looking for an exit from Stamford Bridge, amid growing interest from Real Madrid. Courtois admitted his desire to return to Madrid in the summer of 2016, and may now have his dream fulfilled.
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is now understood to be in the market for an adept keeper to replace Courtois, should he move to the Bernabeau. The Italian has reportedly turned his eye to Manchester City outcast Joe Hart.
City boss Pep Guardiola has deemed the club’s long-standing number one surplus to requirements, as he decided to loan him out to Torino in the summer. The former Bayern Munich manager roped in Claudio Bravo as his replacement, but the Chilean has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League.
That being said, Guardiola is unlikely to have Hart back into his team and could be looking to sell him in the summer. Liverpool are also keen on signing Hart, after Loris Karius poor showings in goal for Jurgen Klopp’s side in recent weeks.
Thus, Chelsea may have to act quick if they are to get their man. Still only 29 years of age, Hart has at least another five years of his best in him, and could prove to be a quality signing for most Premier League sides.
