Joe Hart set to sign for Tottenham on free transfer following Burnley exit

Premier League - West Ham United vs Stoke City - London Stadium, London, Britain - April 16, 2018 West Ham United's Joe Hart reacts [REUTERS/David Klein]

Joe Hart is expected to join Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer after leaving Burnley at the expiry of his contract this summer.

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is eyeing the former England No1 as he aims to increase the number of homegrown players in his squad.

With too many of his stars not qualifying as homegrown, the Portuguese is currently at risk of having to name reduced squads in Premier League and UEFA competition.

Hart will likely become third-choice goalkeeper behind starter Hugo Lloris and back-up Paulo Gazzaniga at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, replacing Michel Vorm who departed last month.

After 348 appearances 12 years on Manchester City's books, Hart departed for Burnley in 2018 and made 19 league appearances in his first season at Turf Moor.

But the 33-year-old fell down the pecking order and made just three appearances in the cup competitions last season as Nick Pope cemented his No1 status.

With City, Hart won numerous team and individual honours, lifting the Premier League and League Cup twice apiece and the FA Cup once.

He also claimed a record-equalling four Golden Gloves, was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year twice and earned 75 caps for England.

Earlier this summer, Hart spoke of how he needed "someone to believe in me" as he looked for a new club.

"The fact I have had to sit on the bench for 18 months in the Premier League is not going to define or crush me," he told BBC Sport .

"I remember who I am. I remember playing for my local Sunday league team and trying to get into the Shrewsbury Town first team. I learned early - you need to keep things in perspective.

"You can have great things said about you in football, but you have to be strong on self-criticism, analyse what you are doing and be comfortable with it.

"Maybe from the outside, people are thinking it is a time for panic, but from the inside it is a time to look forward and see all the opportunities.

"I am young when it comes to goalkeeping. I am even younger when it comes to the mental age of a guy who just wants to go in goal and have people whack balls at him.

"I am under no illusions that Real Madrid are going to knock my door down, get [Thibaut] Courtois out and bring me in. But there is plenty more to come from me.

"I just need someone to believe in me and I will repay that faith."

 

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