"?Joe Hart is edging closer and closer to becoming a Torino player for the duration of the 2016/17 season after travelling to Italy to undergo a medical with the Serie A club ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline.
BBC Sport has revealed that Hart has been given special permission by the Football Association to temporarily leave the England national team camp in order to go to Italy and complete the final details of what is considered by many a surprise move.
The 29-year-old England international has lost his place at City since the arrival of new manager Pep Guardiola over summer, replaced by £17m signing Claudio Bravo as number one at the Etihad Stadium.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the loan will be heavily subsidised by City, with the two-time Premier League champions forking out £90,000 a week for Hart to be in Italy. Torino will make up the rest of the player's wages, paying just £50,000 each week to have him on board.
Hart had been heavily linked with Everton until Toffees boss Ronald Koeman ruled out a move. Sevilla was another rumoured destination until they opted for Salvatore Sirigu, while Sunderland appeared to be the last remaining option if the former Shrewsbury Town teen was desperate to stay in the Premier League.
The path to Italy is not one that's been well trodden by British players in recent years.
Paul Gascoigne enjoyed a mixed time with Lazio in the early 1990s, while Paul Ince was a hit at Inter Milan even though his stay at the San Siro was brief. David Platt, Graeme Souness and Trevor Francis all tried their hand in Italy, while Liverpool legend Ian Rush famously failed to settle after joining Juventus.
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