Aston Villa‘s spending ahead of the 2019-20 season continues as Dean Smith’s team are strengthened to face their toughest test – the Premier League.
The Lions have already signed 6 players, and spent over £60 million, with the latest signing being central defender Tyrone Mings from Bournemouth for £20 million.
The 2018-19 Championship play-off winners are ambitious in their squad-building and are now looking to sign a new goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper that was linked with the Villans is Stoke City’s Jack Butland, but a recent update from Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports has revealed that the deal to bring the England keeper is off because Villa weren’t interested in paying £25 million for the custodian.
Also read: What Aston Villa must do to ensure they do not become the next Fulham
With Aston Villa no longer interested in signing Butland, which goalkeeper could the newly promoted Premier League side sign?
Let’s take a look at 3 alternatives that Aston Villa should target:
Dean Henderson
Manchester United youngster Dean Henderson had a good 2018-19 season with Sheffield United in the Championship, helping the side finish second in the 2018-19 Championship season and promotion to the Premier League.
The 22-year-old Englishman won the Sheffield United Young Player of the Year, and the Championship Golden Glove for most clean sheets in the season, which has caused his stock to rise. Henderson was not chosen for Manchester United’s pre-season tour, which hints at a loan or permanent transfer for the Englishman, and the Blades are interested in taking him back once again.
Villa should mount a strong bid for the future England No. 1, who has shown great potential and is ready to make the big leap to play in the Premier League.
Simon Mignolet
Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet had limited opportunities in the 2018-19 season between the sticks, as Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson was in stellar form throughout the season.
The Belgian goalkeeper could look to move away from the club to get first-team football, and a move to Aston Villa could be a good move for the former Sunderland goalkeeper.
An experienced goalkeeper who has played in the Premier League for nearly a decade for Sunderland and Liverpool, Mignolet has made nearly 250 appearances in the Premier League since signing for Sunderland in 2010.
Crystal Palace are also reportedly interested in signing Mignolet, and he could be available for a fee of around £10 million.
Neil Etheridge
Cardiff City had a terrible 2018-19 season in the Premier League, finishing in 18th place and relegated to the Championship.
However, one of the positives from the Welsh club’s season was the form of their goalkeeper, Neil Etheridge, who ended the season with 141 saves – the second most number of saves in the seasons, while also making three penalty saves – the most for the season.
The 29-year-old has shown that he is of Premier League quality in his very first season in England’s top-flight, and has attracted interest from many clubs.
Etheridge was signed on a free transfer by Cardiff in 2017 and the Bluebirds could let go of him as they begin to rebuild their squad to get promoted back to the Premier League.
