Report: Manchester City block Joe Hart loan move

England goalkeeper Joe Hart will not be allowed to leave Manchester City on loan this month, according to a report.

The 29-year-old was left out of Pep Guardiola's starting XI for Man City's opening Premier League game of the 2016-17 season against Sunderland, in addition to their Champions League clash with Steaua Bucuresti earlier this week.

It is understood that Barcelona's Claudio Bravo is close to joining Guardiola at the Etihad, leaving Hart as number two or potentially number three behind Wilfredo Caballero at the English club this season.

Hart has been strongly linked with a loan move to Everton over the last week, but according to The Sun, Man City will not allow the Englishman to leave on a temporary basis as they hold out for a £30m sale.

It is widely thought that Guardiola is not convinced of Hart's ball-playing abilities from the back.