With the deadline of the summer transfer window now just 24 hours away, most clubs are accelerating the pace of finalizing deals and we expect to see a flurry of activity across Europe.
Joe Hart was more than happy to hear of interest from Torino after he personally rejected a loan deal to Sunderland. As we discussed last week, England’s number one goalkeeper is rushing to find a new club after he dropped down to the third in the pecking order at Manchester City. His national career is also on the line given he would find it hard to be picked without regular first team football.
Nevertheless, a move to a foreign league has always been his priority. Luckily, City also seem determined to get rid of him, paying the majority of his salary in the loan deal. After being granted special permission from national team manager Sam Allardyce to fly to Turin to finish a medical, Hart can look forward to a new life in Italy.
Another Englishman who desperately wants to rescue his national career is Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere. The north Londoner has enjoyed only 37 minutes of game time in the opening three league matches combined, dropping to the sixth in the side’s midfielder ranks. A bright and very talented young player, Wilshere is a victim of countless injuries and an undisciplined personal life. Smoking cigarettes, fighting outside a nightclub at midnight and other incidents paint a picture of an unsatisfied young man – one whose elegant playing style was, ironically, once compared with Paul Gascoigne.
Clearly, Arsene Wenger hasn’t given up all hope by loaning him out to another club. But can he offer Wilshere enough of the game time he needs to get him back to his peak?
