Guardiola: Hart, Toure ‘could play’; cannot ‘deny’ Bravo deal

Speculation a deal could be imminent has now increased after Bravo was pictured at the airport in Barcelona reportedly preparing to board a flight to Manchester.

The 33-year-old Chilean will not sign in time to be selected for City’s Champions League play-off game against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday night but could go straight into the team for the match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

But City do not want him sitting around earning £135,000 a week when he is not playing.

Hart’s prospects of obtaining a starting position for both a club and his country are in significant doubt, as “Big Sam” scrambles for an answer from the new Manchester City manager.

This will seriously affect his chances of playing for England – new manager Sam Allardyce has already suggested that Hart needs to be playing regularly to remain as his number one – so to be at a club where he is not even on the bench most weeks could well kill off his worldwide career. If they want to stay, stay, and we will fight together.

Guardiola played down suggestions of a rift with Hart after TV pictures showed them having a brief exchange in training.

Hart is aware of this.

But soon, Hart may not even be good enough for the bench with Guardiola set to sign Claudio Bravo from Barcelona.

“I grew up from 13 years old [WHEN A PLAYER] with that”.

On Hart, Guardiola added: “I have said many times that he is a player for us and I work with all the players that are here. If I’m in the team tomorrow I will do my best, keep focused and play as simple as possible and work with the team as well”. We’ve played tough games in the last week.

“This is not a romantic issue”.

“You just attack the ball, maybe block sometimes if the people come and attack the ball”. Have the ball is not because have the ball for have the ball. They have conceded 37 Premier League goals in 2016 – more than any other side now in the top flight.

The ruthless decisions to drop Hart and another club linchpin, Yaya Toure, has detracted a little from City’s winning start to the season.

Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola said: “I can not deny what everybody knows”.

“We will need him”. But he has to help us, ‘ the City manager said.

Asked if there had been any enquiries for Hart, he told a news conference: “I don’t know”.

Claudio Bravo is expected in Manchester as early as Thursday to finalise his move to Pep Guardiola’s City, Sky sources understand.

“I spoke with Joe from the first moment we met”. After that he has to be able to help us to create a good build-up.