Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart could be facing an uncertain future at the club, although Pep Guardiola will make the decision in-house.
The England international endured a miserable summer in France, making two high-profile mistakes as Roy Hodgson’s men eventually crashed out at the last-16 stage to Iceland.
While he would have hoped to have put that behind him and started with a clean slate at club level this season, it doesn’t look as though it will be that simple for the 29-year-old.
According to The Guardian, Hart could be dropped for City’s opening game of the season against Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, which isn’t a good sign as Guardiola prepares for his first competitive game in charge.
Instead, Willy Caballero is expected to get the nod, although that isn’t the end of the problem as the report goes on to add that Hart’s future at City is now in the balance.
“Joe is a player I’m so happy with his qualities, his behaviour and what he means to this club,” Guardiola said. “After we are going to decide inside the doors. Now, he is a player of us. Today is not about Joe.”
The Guardian adds that the City boss sees Barcelona shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen as a possible new signing between now and the deadline, and if that move were to be done, then it would certainly pile further pressure on Hart.
The England ace has been a long-term fixture of the City team, but his mistakes and inability to provide what Guardiola is looking for could now see his time at the club come to an end as it doesn’t look as though he’ll get the chance to impress this weekend.