Pep Guardiola’s search to for a permanent goalkeeper is edging closer after Manchester City agreed personal terms with Claudio Bravo. The new Manchester City boss has identified the 33-year-old as his top goalkeeping target after a move for Bravo's Barcelona team-mate Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was failed.
According to Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona goalkeeper is set for a move to The Etihad, which would cast further doubts over Joe Hart’s future at the club. The Spanish publication wrote, “Bravo’s camp sees [a deal] ‘almost done with City’.”
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Bravo has a release clause of €42 million inserted into his contract but City are expected to negotiate a fee of around half the amount and have already agreed personal terms with the player's representatives. The Chilean has been Barcelona's No. 1 goalkeeper in the La Liga, leaving Ter Stegen limited to appearances only in cup competitions.
Also read: Pep Guardiola hopes Joe Hart will fight for his place at Manchester City
Luis Enrique was happy to have both of them at the squad but Ter Stegen expressed his unhappiness at his bit-part role towards the end of last season and the situation appeared to go out of hand.
Claudio Bravo is nine years elder to Ter Stegen, and Barcelona the latter as a more valuable asset for the future. Bravo’s move would further cast doubts over Joe Hart’s future with Manchester City, who did not feature in the Premier League opener vs Sunderland. Joe Hart had a disastrous Euro 2016 campaign and after being dropped on the bench ahead of Argentine Willy Caballero left him unhappy.
“I am a guy who takes decisions. I am not afraid about that. I feel it and do it,” said an unrepentant Guardiola. “I think Willy had a really good pre-season. He gave me a lot of confidence for this game, his building-up play, his personality. That is why I chose him.
“This line-up was for this game. Of course, Joe can play in the next game (v Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday) but I don't know if he will.”
Joe Hart has already had to deal with a lot of criticism with his performances in the Euro tournament and his lack of ability with the ball at his feet wouldn’t be suitable for Pep’s playing style, forcing him to make an exit.
