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LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Claudio Bravo of Barcelona in action during the International Champions Cup match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Claudio Bravo of Barcelona in action during the International Champions Cup match between Liverpool and Barcelona at Wembley Stadium on August 6, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Manchester City Transfer News: Claudio Bravo Agreement Reached, Joe Hart Rumours

Rory MarsdenAug 15, 2016

Manchester City are reportedly on the verge of signing Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo for €25 million (£21.7 million) in a move that further threatens Joe Hart's long-term future at the Etihad Stadium. 

According to Sport's Gerard Romero, confirmation of the move will come later this week, with Chilean Bravo, 33, expected to be in Manchester on Thursday to finalise negotiations.

According to MailOnline's Simon Jones, the two-time La Liga winner will pen a four-year deal with City, but Barca are not prepared to let him go until they can bring in a replacement.

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13:  Manchester City goalkeepers Willy Caballero (l) and Joe Hart look on during the warm up before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on August 13, 2016 in Manchester, England.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen will likely replace Bravo as No. 1 at the Camp Nou in the long term, but he is injured, and Barca's 2015-16 La Liga campaign gets under way with the visit of Real Betis on Saturday.

Jones added that new City manager Guardiola does not believe Hart has "the necessary skill set to be his No. 1," hence his eagerness to bring in a new stopper, and Everton could now be interested in taking the England international on loan once Bravo moves to Manchester.

Guardiola opted to start Willy Caballero in goal ahead of Hart on Saturday as City beat Sunderland 2-1 in the Spanish manager's first Premier League game in charge.

It has long been rumoured that the former Barca and Bayern Munich boss wanted a new No. 1 at City, although Ter Stegen, 24, was previously named as his main target, per John Cross in the Mirror.

According to Bleacher Report's Dean Jones, Hart's poor distribution is one of the key reasons Guardiola does not rate him, as the Spaniard is a manager who encourages the ball being played out from the back:

Bravo is comfortable on the ball and should be much better suited to Guardiola's system. Per Spanish football writer Rafael Hernandez, the goalkeeper has made major improvements since moving to Barca from Real Sociedad in 2014:

He is experienced and still has a number of years left at the top of his game. He has proved himself at the highest level with the Chilean national team as well, winning two Copa America titles.

Unlike Hart, Bravo also makes few costly errors. The 29-year-old had a torrid time at Euro 2016, making key mistakes against Wales and Iceland while playing for England, and no doubt Guardiola is aware he is prone to the occasional blunder, per WhoScored.com:

It seems Hart is not the type of goalkeeper Guardiola wants in his side as he attempts to build a title-winning team at City, and Bravo's potential imminent arrival at the Etihad will surely spell the end of the Englishman's career at the club.

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