** The 33-year-old Manchester City target has a £36m release clause
** City No 1 Joe Hart was axed for their Premier League opener on Saturday
Pep Guardiola's quest to find a 'footballing' goalkeeper is edging closer after Manchester City agreed personal terms with Claudio Bravo.
According to Spanish reports, the Barcelona goalkeeper is set for a switch to the Etihad - casting a grave doubt over Joe Hart's future there.
The paper adds that despite the Chile international agreeing terms a deal with City, the Premier League outfit are yet to see eye-to-eye over a transfer fee with Barcelona.
The 33-year-old currently has a release clause of £36million but City are confident of landing their target for £21m due to the Spanish giants also boasting Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is also a Guardiola target, on their books.
Bravo's arrival would leave Hart a dilemma at the Etihad.
Guardiola refused to give England goalkeeper any assurances about his long-term future at City after surprisingly axing him for Saturday's 2-1 victory against Sunderland.
The Spaniard underlined his ruthless reputation by demoting City's longest-serving player in favour of Argentine Willy Caballero.
'I am a guy who takes decisions. I am not afraid about that. I feel it and do it,' said an unrepentant Guardiola.
'I think Willy had a really good pre-season. He gave me a lot of confidence for this game, his building-up play, his personality. That is why I chose him.
'This line-up was for this game. Of course Joe can play in the next game (v Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday) but I don't know if he will.'
Missing out on the first game of the Guardiola era will be huge concern for 29-year-old Hart who was blamed in some quarters for England's exit against Iceland at Euro 2016.
Always seen as a commanding presence on and off the pitch, Guardiola is among the managers who feel he has to improve his footwork in the modern game where sweeper-keepers such as Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer are held in high regard.
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