Man City line up Uruguay star to solve problem position

Having dropped him for Manchester City’s next Premier League game against Norwich for dropping a clanger too many this season, how will boss Manuel Pellegrini fix his broken Hart? The answer seems to be buying another goalkeeper at the earliest opportunity.

The former Malaga boss looks like he has finally ran out of patience with Joe Hart after yet another inexplicable mistake condemned City to a costly last-minute defeat against Chelsea, and it now seems the Chilean has set his sights on a January move for Galatasaray’s £25m-rated goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.

Hart’s impression of a Nintendo-playing David James has been as alarming as it has been surprising, and it can shock nobody that Pellegrini has plumped to put Costel Pantilimon between the sticks against Norwich, while rumours of City’s move for Muslera make perfect sense.

Muslera has been part of the Gala side that has won successive Turkish Super Lig titles, as well as keeping goal for the Uruguay team that won the 2011 Copa America, saving a vital penalty from former City forward Carlos Tevez in the quarter-final penalty shoot-out.

Firmly established as Uruguay’s number one, Gala president Unal Aysal has admitted Muslera could be up for sale.

“I hope Fernando stays with us but we know there is interest in him in England,” said Aysal. “If a big offer arrives, maybe £25million, we will consider selling him.”

What this means for England’s World Cup hopes is another matter (although England have been used to having dodgy keepers) but that isn’t Pellegrini’s concern and Roberto Mancini, now ironically in charge of the Turkish champions, might be about to do his old club a favour.

Whoever they have in net for the rest of the season, Manchester City are 12/5 to win the Premier League, while they are 14/1 to go all the way in the Champions League.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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