Tottenham to bolster goalkeeping ranks with deal for Joe Hart
Joe Hart #JoeHart
The former England goalkeeper Joe Hart is having a medical at Tottenham with a view to finalising a two-year deal. The 33-year-old is a free agent following his release from Burnley and would challenge Paulo Gazzaniga to be Hugo Lloris’s No 2, with Spurs looking for a third goalkeeper following Michel Vorm’s release last month.
Hart left Turf Moor on 30 June after two years at the club where he fell behind Tom Heaton and then Nick Pope in the pecking order, making three appearances in the 2019-20 season.
His career has stuttered since winning the Premier League with Manchester City and 75 caps for England. Pep Guardiola did not rate Hart and he was shipped out to Torino and then West Ham.
He could help solve a problem for Spurs as, under Premier League rules, clubs must name at least eight homegrown players in their 25-man squad and his English nationality would fill a slot.
If he wins the race to be Lloris’s understudy there will almost certainly be playing time for him because Spurs face a hectic schedule in the opening weeks of the season. Europa League qualifying clashes with the early rounds of the Carabao Cup, meaning José Mourinho may have to put out an under-23s team in the domestic competition.
Tottenham midfielder Oliver Skipp has joined Norwich City on a season-long loan, having signed a new three-year deal with Spurs in July. “I’m delighted to sign for Norwich. It’s a club that’s looking to go places,” Skipp said.
“This season is a big one for the club and we’ll be looking to get back into the Premier League,” said the academy graduate who made 11 appearances last term. “I haven’t played as much [at Spurs] as I’d want but this is a massive opportunity and hopefully I’ll show the fans that I’m capable of taking it.”
The north London club also announced two permanent departures on Monday, with midfielders Luke Amos and Armando Shashoua joining QPR and Spain’s Atlético Baleares respectively.
Spurs made their first signing of the summer last week when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg signed from Southampton with Kyle Walker-Peters moving to St Mary’s.