Liverpool Transfer News: Joe Hart Battle with Everton Expected, Latest Rumours

Liverpool and Everton will reportedly go head-to-head to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, as the England international appears not to fit into Pep Guardiola's plans at the Etihad Stadium.

According to Sky Sports' Tim Clement, Claudio Bravo looks set to replace Hart, and the two Merseyside clubs could each use a new 'keeper with new Liverpool signing Loris Karius out with a broken hand and Hart likely to prove a better long-term replacement for Tim Howard at Everton than Maarten Stekelenburg.

Hart did not feature in either the opening-day victory over Sunderland or City's UEFA Champions League play-off win over Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday.

Hart's position has not looked secure since Guardiola arrived as he lacks the technical skills the Spaniard likes his goalkeepers to have.

His performances with England at UEFA Euro 2016 will have hardly endeared him to the manager either, as he was twice guilty of allowing a shot he should have dealt with to squirm past him.

Per Squawka Football, Hart isn't always the most reliable No. 1:

Both Liverpool and Everton have made strides to resolve their goalkeeping situations this summer, but Hart's availability could tempt them back into the market, per Clement.

According to BBC Sport's David Ornstein, Hart would prefer a temporary switch if he's to leave City this summer:

Football writer Sean Lunt believes the Toffees should pursue the 29-year-old:

Despite his tendency to make mistakes, Hart has also shown himself to be an able Premier League goalkeeper and would be a healthy upgrade on either Stekelenburg or Mignolet.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have reportedly fallen spectacularly short of Liverpool's valuation of Christian Benteke.

According to the Sun's Phil Thomas, Palace offered the Reds £23.5 million as well as £7 million in add-ons. However, £2.5 million of the extras were "dependent on Palace reaching the Champions League, Benteke playing 70 per cent of the games—and also hitting 20 goals," all in the same season.

As noted by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, the Eagles' offer was more than a little unrealistic:

Despite the Belgian's struggles last season, the Reds will no doubt want to recoup as much as they can for the striker.

Until Palace return with a more realistic proposal—perhaps with more cash offered up front to boot—they won't be able to prise him away from Anfield.