Joe Hart expects Manchester City to target English players

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has admitted that he expects the club to target English players in this summer's transfer window.

Losing Frank Lampard, Scott Sinclair and James Milner in the last month has put pressure on the club to meet the homegrown quota, and Hart would not be surprised if he is joined at the Etihad Stadium by some of his international teammates.

"It is a long summer ahead," he told reporters. "With losing Frank and James – and I'm not in the discussions of transfers – I imagine, given homegrown players and stuff like that, it will be top of their list to bring in English players or to promote some of the lads [from the academy]."

"I am sure we will have a good balanced squad come the start of the season.

"I am very confident in City as a club going places, which is why I committed my future to them. What they are doing is fantastic. He is a great chairman and they have done amazing things since coming."

Reports on Thursday evening suggested that Liverpool had rejected a bid from City for Raheem Sterling.