West Ham United inch closer to Joe Hart deal

West Ham United are said to be 'stepping up their efforts' with Manchester City to sign out-of-favour goalkeeper Joe Hart on-loan, according to Sky Sources.

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The 30-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City since Guardiola's arrival, with the goalkeeper having to find first-team football elsewhere last year at Italian Serie A side Torino, where he endured a somewhat under-par season with the club.

It's no surprise that Guardiola will be keen to let the goalkeeper leave this summer, even with his contract running until 2019, the Citizens recently signed Ederson for an undisclosed fee last month from Benfica and Claudio Bravo from Spanish giants Barcelona last summer.

Joe Hart has also reportedly not joined up with his team-mates for the current tour of America, whilst he looks to push for a move away from the club.

It is understood that Manchester City could be willing to subsidise all of Hart's 110k-a-week wages for him to join West Ham, with The Hammers keen on an option to buy England's number one next summer on a permanent basis. (Where have we heard that before)

It was reported earlier in the summer that Manchester City's estimated £18million valuation had put West Ham off a potential deal, however with Hart deemed surplus to requirements, a loan deal will now be seen as viable.

Watford and Newcastle are also seen as great admirers of Hart, and would be willing to step up their efforts to sign the player.

The deal would probably spell the end for either Adrian or Darren Randolph at the club, with both players not having the best of seasons last year, it's been no secret Slaven Bilic could opt to pursue a new number one keeper before the start of next season.

West Ham will have to act fast in their pursuit of the experienced keeper, after alreading failing to acquire numerous number one targets this summer, most recently Kelechi Iheanacho to Leicester City.

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