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New A-League club Melbourne Heart have signed Sydney FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton and confirmed they are talking to his striker team-mate John Aloisi.
Bolton is the first goalkeeper to join the Heart and coach John van’t Schip said the 34-year-old former Socceroo had plenty of good form ahead of him.
“We followed him for a long period this season … he’s a very experienced goalkeeper, he’ll be very important for our team,” van’t Schip said.
“At an older age, (a goalkeeper) becomes even better – there are, of course, exceptions, but Clint is a goalkeeper with a lot of games in the A League.
“He’s getting better and better in the years coming.”
Bolton and Aloisi are two of Sydney’s most important players and were key factors in their first A-League Premier’s Plate, which they secured on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.
Heart chief executive Scott Munn said the new club was speaking to Aloisi, but added they were a long way off signing him.
“We can certainly confirm we’re talking to him, our position is we’re talking to a lot of players – we’ve got to sign 23,” Munn said.
“We’ll continue to speak with a whole range of players and someone of the calibre of Jean Aloisi would be fantastic, but it’s a long way away.”
The Heart received another major boost on Tuesday when they announced a three-year sponsorship with Westpac.
“It is absolutely a coup for us and I think a coup for the FFA,” Munn said.
“There is no question it is the single-largest deal and single-best deal that has been done in the A League since its inception.
“It gives us absolute credibility in the marketplace … that we’re a sport to be reckoned with.”
The Heart will run a series of community football festivals through the Geelong and Gippsland areas in June as they try to build local support.
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