“Jurgen Klopp, when you’re talking net spend, has virtually spent nothing since he has come in. He has done a remarkable job but the position Liverpool are in, if they get a chance to get a goalkeeper who has won Premier League titles, you do it.”

Whether Manchester City would be happy to let Hart switch to a Premier League rival remains to be seen. Making it happen next month seems unlikely, especially if City fall further behind Liverpool when the two sides meet at Anfield on New Year’s Eve.