Manchester City transfer news: Joe Hart's future hangs in the balance after Everton withdraw interest

Goodison Park had been mooted as a possible destination for the out-of-favour keeper but a move to Everton now appears to be off the cards

Joe Hart now faces the prospect of a season on the sideline under Pep Guardiola (Getty)

Everton’s interest in signing Joe Hart on loan has cooled on account of the goalkeeper’s expensive salary, according to reports.

Goodison Park had emerged as the most likely destination for the England international after Pep Guardiola told Hart he is free to find a new club, but his future now lies in limbo after the Toffees withdrew their interest.

Everton are believed to have been put off by Hart’s £135,000-a-week wage packet which would have cost the club around £7m for the season, the Daily Mail reports.

The club had held preliminary talks with City about Hart’s situation but further discussions on Monday were brought to an abrupt end after the Everton hierarchy decided that they weren’t prepared to go any further in the deal.

Maarten Stekelenburg’s impressive start to life at Everton has also cast doubt on the need to sign Hart with the club convinced that the Holland international can fulfil the role of first-team keeper for the coming season.

In light of such developments, Hart’s future at City has grown increasingly bleak.

With only eight days left of the transfer window, the prospect of a season on the sideline now beckons for the 29-year-old as he struggles to find an exit route out of the Etihad Stadium.

Sevilla had been mooted as another potential destination but are now believed to be pressing ahead with a move for Valencia keeper Diego Alves instead.

England manager Sam Allardyce admitted that he was “concerned” by Hart’s current predicament.

“That is the problem for any player you want to select for England, not just in isolation, is that it'll be a concern if that player doesn't play for his team,” the 61-year-old said.

“You have to have doubts about that, but before I meet up with Joe I don't know where he lies in that process at the moment.


 Willy Caballero has enjoyed a resurgence under Guardiola 
 (Reuters)

“When we pick the first squad and they meet up here there will be some lads who don't play on a regular basis. In the end, we select the players in the best form, [that] are fit and playing [but] can we get in the England squad ones who play every week? Probably not now.”

Having lost his place to Willy Caballero and with Claudio Bravo’s arrival at City expected to be announced imminently, Hart currently stands to be demoted to third-choice goalkeeper under Guardiola.