Aston Villa have agreed a fee for Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton, with the 33-year-old set to have a medical today, according to Sky Sports. Heaton would become Villa’s 12th signing of the summer, with their spending having already well exceeded £100 million in total.
Aston Villa Set to Sign Tom Heaton From Burnley
Abundance
Heaton will be joining a squad that already has three goalkeepers that have appeared regularly for Villa. Jed Steer saw out the 2018/19 season and was their hero in the play-off campaign against West Bromwich Albion, saving the first two penalties in the shoot-out to reach the final.
Also in the squad is Norway international Orjan Nyland, who was signed at the start of last season. He has made 23 appearances since his arrival on a three-year contract but missed the second half of last season after rupturing his Achilles.
Finally, Croatian stopped Lovre Kalinic joined from Gent in January of this year to ease the problems surrounding Nyland’s injury. However, after conceding eight goals in his first three games, Steer took the number one spot.
Heaton’s Experience
Tom Heaton would provide some much-needed experience in Villa’s goalkeeping department. Despite being at Villa since 2013, Steer has spent the majority of his career on loan in the Football League. Nyland’s injury could still keep him out for a while longer, and Kalinic is not exactly favoured after his nervous start.
Heaton, a full England international, is widely considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league outside of the so-called ‘big six’ and could comfortably claim the number one spot at Villa.
Paving the Way
Heaton spent a large chunk of 2017/18 on the treatment table, allowing Nick Pope to break through at the Clarets. He did so to much acclaim and even made the England World Cup squad, although did not play a single minute in Russia.
Had Pope not suffered a long-term injury himself at the start of last season, there’s no doubt that he would have maintained the starting berth at Turf Moor. Heaton’s departure this time around will give Pope the platform to regain that spot and keep it ahead of Joe Hart and Adam Legzdins.
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