Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart close to Torino loan move

30 August 2016 11:53

Joe Hart is expected to finalise a loan move to Italian club Torino on Tuesday.

The Manchester City goalkeeper was given permission to leave England's training base, where he was preparing for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Slovakia, to resolve his club future.

The 29-year-old is now widely reported to be travelling to Italy to undergo a medical and complete a season-long switch to the Serie A side.

Hart has fallen to third choice at City behind new signing Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero.

Hart has won two Premier League titles at City and been their first choice for most of the past six years but new manager Pep Guardiola has made clear his preference for a keeper who is better with his feet.

The move could help safeguard his England place. Hart seems to have chosen Torino ahead of reported interest from Sunderland. Everton and Sevilla last week distanced themselves from reports linking them with the former Shrewsbury keeper.

Hart's departure could be one of a number from the Etihad Stadium before Wednesday's transfer deadline.

City have spent around £170million on new players since the arrival of Guardiola in the summer and now seem to be switching attention to outgoing deals.

Playmaker Samir Nasri, who made a surprise substitute appearance against West Ham on Sunday, has been linked with Sevilla and Beskitas while defender Eliaquim Mangala is reportedly a target for former club Porto. Striker Wilfried Bony's future is also uncertain.

Meanwhile City are waiting to hear whether star striker Sergio Aguero will face disciplinary action following an incident involving West Ham's Winston Reid. The Argentinian appeared to catch the New Zealand international in the neck with his elbow during the second half of City's 3-1 win in the Premier League on Sunday.

Action from the Football Association could result in a three-match ban, ruling the 28-year-old out of the derby against Manchester United on September 10.

Aguero is also nursing a calf injury and has pulled out of Argentina's upcoming qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela. City are still to learn the full extent of the problem.

Source: PA