Pep Guardiola has said he will allow Joe Hart to go on loan or leave Manchester City permanently should the goalkeeper ask to do so. Hart was omitted for City’s first two competitive matches and it is known that the manager wants to sign Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo to be the new No1.
The 29-year-old England goalkeeper is considering his options and as the manager prepared for City’s trip to Stoke on Saturday, Guardiola was asked if Hart can leave or sign a loan deal if this was requested. “Of course. I don’t want players who are unhappy,” the manager said before stating he has been honest about Hart’s prospects.
“I spoke with Joe the first moment we met in China [on the pre-season tour], I have a lot of respect for him as a person and as a keeper. He’s valuable. Until 31st [August], everything is open – If Joe is still here, he will fight for his place.”
Guardiola said that Ilkay Gündogan and Leroy Sané had their first full training sessions on Friday after injury, while Vincent Kompany has begun non-contact work as he tries to fight back from a thigh injury.
Speaking about Sané, a £37m purchase from Schalke this month, Guardiola said: “Leroy made his first part of the training session, he still has a little muscular problem but in one-two weeks, when we’re back from the national-team break, he’ll be ready.”
Bacary Sagna, meanwhile, should soon be back in action. Guardiola said: “Bacary has a little, little problem but it’s nothing big. That’s why he didn’t start in [midweek at] Bucharest, we don’t want to take a risk.”
Hart is not the only high-profile figure at City finding himself out in the cold. Yaya Touré is another yet to feature under Guardiola and was not included in the match-day squad for the victories over Sunderland and Steaua Bucharest.
Given that Guardiola sold Touré at Barcelona, it was felt that the Ivorian would not have a future at City. The Catalan is adamant, however, that the 33-year-old is part of his plans. “Yaya is trying very well, he loves football. I spoke with him about his situation, he’s a player with huge quality and I’m really glad that his agent said I’m a good coach – thank you, Dimitri [Seluk].
“I have adulation and respect for Yaya’s quality – when he increases his intensity without the ball, he will be involved.”
