Report: Tottenham Hotspur close to signing Joe Hart after Celtic go with Barkas

By David Walton

August 17, 2020

According to the Telegraph, Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly close to signing Joe Hart, the veteran shot-stopper previously linked with Celtic.

The newspaper believes that Hart is set to have a medical with the North London club, and that manager Jose Mourinho wants more cover for first-choice Hugo Lloris. He believes Hart would fill that void.

Experienced England international Hart was previously linked with a summer switch to Celtic. The Daily Record reported back in June that the Hoops had made contact with his representatives.

Free agent goalkeeper Joe Hart in action for Burnley / (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)

However, Neil Lennon’s Hoops ended up signing a younger shot-stopper in 26-year-old Vasilis Barkas from AEK Athens.

Since then, talk of Hart coming up to Glasgow has almost silenced. Celtic look to have made their minds up on their three senior goalkeepers for the season in Barkas, Scott Bain, and Conor Hazard respectively.

Hart’s wages surely would’ve ruled out back-up option

It’s interesting to note that Hart would potentially arrive at Tottenham as their back-up goalkeeper. You would’ve thought that his main focus would’ve been on securing a spot elsewhere as a number one.

Hart’s CV reads extremely well after all. With 75 international appearances, 340 Premier League outings, and 50 European matches to his name – Hart’s experience is substantial (Transfermarkt).

Even if his form has dipped, he would make an extremely useful back-up stopper. Which for some may beg the question as to why we haven’t gone back in for him to see if he would fancy challenging Barkas.

Jose Mourinho looks set to sign Joe Hart (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

The obvious obstacle here would be his wages. What he would be earning at Tottenham will be on a different planet to what Celtic could offer a back-up goalkeeper.

Even if Hart was to take a drop in wages, our unique selling point would’ve been that he would’ve come to the club and been given the number one jersey. Without that prospect, Hart would surely be looking elsewhere.

It will be disappointing to see such a decent goalkeeper settle for being on a Premier League’s club bench, however. He’s better than that, and you would’ve thought his appetite to prove doubters wrong would’ve been higher.

Regardless, Celtic’s decision to move for Barkas still looks the better option on paper.

In other news, a Crystal Palace coach has hailed Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor.