Manchester City are ready to help Joe Hart relaunch his career by lowering their £5 million asking price for the former England goalkeeper. Hart has said that he will only leave the club on a permanent deal in this window and would rather see out the final year of his contract than make a third successive loan move after spells at Torino and West Ham United.

Hart, 31, has been on City’s pre-season tour to the United States and Pep Guardiola, the club’s manager, has praised his attitude.

There has been interest from Fenerbahce in Turkey and elsewhere on the Continent, and City will be flexible on what they will now ask for to the extent that a free transfer cannot be ruled out.

Burnley,