In Focus: Bringing in Hart would show even bigger sign of intent from Aston Villa

Sky Bet‘s odds have shortened on Aston Villa signing Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.

What’s the word?

The future of the England shot-stopper remains up in the air after he returned to City from his loan spell at Serie A club Torino last season.

Pep Guardiola made it clear that Hart would not be number one under his management, so now it is likely that he will be off again this summer.

It is unclear whether City would be open to another loan deal, but it would make sense for both parties to have a clean break.

Interestingly, over the last few days, Villa have emerged as contenders for Hart’s signature, according to the bookmakers.

Sky Bet have offered odds of 7/4 on Hart becoming a Villan by the end of the transfer window in August.

Only West Ham United have a better chance (6/4) of signing the 30-year-old as far as the betting gods are concerned.

How would Hart’s arrival affect Villa?

It would certainly put Steve Bruce’s club up there as one of the favourites to achieve promotion back to the Premier League.

Villa are a well-established club in England, but they have struggled to keep up with the best of the best.

Signing a player of Hart’s quality would put them back on the right path, and would certainly worry their Championship opponents.

It would give the club and the fans a huge boost and prove to everyone that they are not prepared to fade, particularly as his potential arrival would follow that of John Terry.

The five-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner joined the Midlands outfit this week on a one-year deal after ending his 22-year spell a Chelsea.

Bringing in the likes of Terry and Hart would show that Chinese owner Tony Xia is committed to getting Villa back to the top.

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