Guardiola has identified City’s new no.1 goalkeeper
Manchester City have agreed personal terms with Claudio Bravo’s representatives as they close in on completing a deal for the Barcelona goalkeeper.
First choice shot stopper Joe Hart was dropped for City’s opening league victory over Sunderland on Saturday, leading to speculation about the 29-year-old’s future, and it now seems the England international is free to leave the club.
Hart has spent six years as City’s no.1 choice, displacing Shay Given in goal, and the Englishman now looks to be succeeded by Bravo, who Barca are reluctantly ready to let go, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen having grown fed up of being second choice.
City are understood to be close on agreeing a fee half of Bravo’s €42 million release clause, which will see Ter Stegen promoted to first choice, having featured mainly in Barca’s cup fixtures. But the German, himself, has also been lined up for City.
But Barca are adamant on keeping Ter Stegen, and Guardiola will have to be patient in raiding his former club, with the German having suffered an injury set back in training on Thursday that means Bravo is in much need at the Camp Nou, for now at least.
The Catalan giants face Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup, with the second leg completed on Wednesday, by which point City hope they can secure the south American’s services.
Luis Enrique would ideally like to keep both of his ‘keepers, but is resigned to losing Bravo, 33, in order to keep ahold of Ter Stegen, 24, who has cut a frustrated figure at Barcelona.
Having been at Barcelona for two years, Bravo is comfortable with the ball as his feet, and will fit in with Guardiola’s preferred way of playing, while Hart has yet to master the way the Spaniard wants him to play.
But it’s yet to be seen where Hart will go from here, if he does leave the Etihad this transfer window.
