Transfer Centre

Bournemouth to beat Stoke City to Joe Hart?

By Neil Wilkes, Editor-in-chiefPublished: 16 June 2019 12:58 PM

Bournemouth could beat Stoke City to the signing of Burnley stopper Joe Hart if they are unable to agree terms with the Potters for Jack Butland.

Bournemouth will reportedly move for Stoke City target Joe Hart if they are unable to prise Jack Butland away from the Potters.

England stopper Butland, 26, is expected to leave Stoke this summer after they failed to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, with a £20m price tag having been placed on his head.

Reports yesterday suggested that Stoke have earmarked Hart - third choice at Burnley - as Butland's replacement but in a fresh twist, it has been claimed that the Cherries could instead pip them to Hart if they are unable to reach a suitable deal for Butland.

According to The Sun, Bournemouth have begun looking at the possibility of signing Hart after growing frustrated with Stoke's refusal to budge on their valuation of Butland.

Hart - behind Tom Heaton and Nick Pope in the Burnley pecking order - is likely to cost less than his £4.5m transfer fee from a year ago but is still thought to pocket a not-inconsiderable £45,000 a week in wages.