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Arsenal eyeing Joe Hart as Petr Cech replacement

By Craig Pearson

Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart reacts during a friendly football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg on August 7, 2016. / AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Manchester City's English goalkeeper Joe Hart reacts during a friendly football match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Ullevi stadium in Gothenburg on August 7, 2016. / AFP / JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (Photo credit should read JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal are weighing up their goalkeeping options with a view towards the summer and see Joe Hart as a potential replacement for Petr Cech.

Arsenal are eyeing a move for Joe Hart as their new number one goalkeeper, according the Daily Mail. Hart is set to leave Manchester City in the summer and the Gunners are interested in signing the 29-year-old to replace an ageing Petr Cech.

Cech has declined since joining Arsenal, but now issues are starting to show up more often than in the past. Arsene Wenger would make Cech his number two if he remains at the club, but bring in Hart as the club’s new first choice.

City are looking for around £15 million for Hart, but that could increase if they were to sell to a direct rival. As well as Arsenal, Liverpool have also been linked with Hart recently. The two clubs could end up doing battle over the England number one.

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Arsenal have both Cech and Wojciech Szczesny to consider before any move for Hart. Whereas Liverpool have Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius to asses before they would likely make a move. But both clubs clearly have issues to iron out at the goalkeeper position.

Hart has spent this season on loan at Torino in Italt and does have potential suitors outside of England. But despite that, a move back to a Premier League club is seen as the priority over another move abroad.

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Remaining in England will keep Hart in the thoughts of England manager Gareth Southgate. One man who’s thoughts Hart is unlikely to be in, though, is Pep Guardiola’s. The Manchester City boss sent Hart out on loan in the summer with him surprisingly surplus to requirements.

And despite Hart performing well in Italy, it seems he just does not fit under Guardiola regardless. The Spaniard is looking for a goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and possess good decision-making in order to play as the team’s sweeper keeper.

Hart certainly does not fit that description. But that doesn’t mean he couldn’t help another top Premier League team to improve. Hart is still one of the top goalkeepers around. Admittedly, he’s not without flaws, but Hart would still make a good signing for either Arsenal or Liverpool.

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Szczesny has been out on loan from Arsenal for a couple of years now, and doesn’t seem to be a prominent figure in Wenger’s thoughts. While Cech is still valuable off the field and more than capable of being the team’s backup.

Arsenal look like they will be addressing the goalkeeper position in the summer. But would Joe Hart be the right signing?

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