Testing times: Hart believes Kompany's body is feeling the strain of his playing style

Aston Villa make two PL approaches, one is 71-times international – report

Fri 7 July 2017 7:03, UK

By Danny Wright

Aston Villa have made an approach for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, according to a report.

The Birmingham Mail claims that Steve Bruce is yet to hear back from the Premier League side, but the club’s chances of landing the 71-times England international are said to be low as he may not be willing to drop down to the Championship in a World Cup year.

It is also understood that Villa have made contact over top summer target Manchester United stopper Sam Johnstone, who spent the second half of last season on loan in Bruce’s squad.

The report says that Bruce has held talks with the Premier League giants’ boss Jose Mourinho, but the hold up is down to Man United, who can’t decide where the young ‘keeper will spend his pre-season training.

Signing a player like Hart would no doubt be the second coup that Villa have made this summer, after John Terry signed earlier this week.

Hart, 30, had his future at the Etihad thrown into doubt when he was shipped out on loan to Torino for the entirety of last season, but he failed to impress in Italy as he made a series of mistakes as he kept just five clean sheets in 36 league appearances.

Football Insider Verdict

Terry is quite a good signing for Villa, but there’s no doubt that Hart would be their signing of the summer. The 30-year-old still has a lot to offer to any club, and it’s crazy that there isn’t a queue of Premier League managers that are vying for his signature. As he appears to be very much Gareth Southgate’s No 1 choice in the England set-up, it looks unlikely that a move to Villa Park will materialise as he could be risking a spot on the plane to Russia for the World Cup next summer. Hart’s a good goalkeeper, but there are better options in the national team than him now. He should seriously consider the move to Villa.