Joe Hart and Wilfried Bony have left Manchester City on what looks set to be a busy day of outgoings at the Etihad Stadium.
England goalkeeper Hart has completed his anticipated season-long loan move to Torino with striker Bony joining Stoke until the end of the campaign.
Two other players also seemed likely to move on with defender Eliaquim Mangala and playmaker Samir Nasri in discussions with Valencia and Sevilla respectively.
Hart is hoping his move will guarantee first-team football after slipping down the pecking order further following the signing of Claudio Bravo from Barcelona last week. New manager Pep Guardiola had already made it clear Hart was behind Willy Caballero in his thoughts.
The 29-year-old was given permission to seek alternative employment and Torino emerged as the most likely destination after Everton and Sevilla distanced themselves from the player and Sunderland’s reported interest was not reciprocated.
England manager Sam Allardyce then allowed Hart time away from preparations for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia to resolve his club future before Wednesday’s transfer deadline.
Hart told the Serie A side’s website, torinofc.it: “Suddenly my career has taken a turn. It was a sign. Torino’s offer came in the right moment, in the right manner. I am very excited to test myself in an important and beautiful league such as Serie A.”
Hart had been at City 10 years and been at the centre of all their success in recent seasons, including the Premier League title wins of 2012 and 2014.
Bony has also found himself out of favour and is hoping the move to Stoke can revive a career that has stalled since his £28million move to City from Swansea in January last year.
Due to a combination of international call-ups, injuries, illness and poor form, the Ivory Coast forward has not been able to establish himself at Eastlands.
But Bony’s record at Swansea was impressive and Stoke boss Mark Hughes is hopeful of getting the best out of the player.
Hughes told the club’s website, www.stokecityfc.com: “Bringing Wilfried in was a no-brainer for us to be perfectly honest because he knows the Premier League and has scored plenty of goals at this level.
“He has power, speed and very good physical attributes which will undoubtedly help us, and his technical and finishing skills are outstanding too.
“Eighteen months ago he was being bought for a hugely significant amount of money, so we know that we are bringing in a top-quality striker.”
Guardiola said at the weekend Nasri, who appeared as a late substitute in Sunday’s win over West Ham, would be welcome to stay and fight for his place.
However he also said he would not stand in the player’s way and it appears the Frenchman has decided his immediate future lies away from Manchester.
Sevilla, the Europa League champions, have confirmed their interest.
Director of football Monchi said: “If we close the Nasri deal today, we’ll have the last piece that the coach was asking for.”
Mangala, a £42million signing from Porto two years ago, travelled to Valencia to discuss a potential move to Spain.
