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Per a report from The Sun, Aston Villa could launch a £20m bid for goalkeeper Jack Butland.
The stopper has been playing for Stoke in the Championship but has still found himself in Gareth Southgate’s England squad on a regular basis.
That’s despite the Three Lions manager previously hinting that Villa’s own Jack Grealish needed to play in the Premier League to be considered for the national side.
After being relegated with the Potters in 2017/18, he remained in England’s second tier which was somewhat surprising given his quality.
However, the Villans could now be set to offer him a route back to the top-flight according to The Sun. Butland played 45 times last term, conceding 48 goals.
Impressively the 26-year-old also managed to keep 18 clean sheets in the process, a tally that means he didn’t concede a single goal in 40% of the matches he played in.
Considering how Jed Steer performed during the back end of last season it’s perhaps questionable that the Villans are after another goalkeeper.
But what do a select group of Football FanCast writers make of a potential move? Have a read below to find out.
James Beavis:
“A decent goalkeeper can make the difference for a newly-promoted club in the Premier League, and Jack Butland certainly fits into that category. However, Jed Steer showed in 2019 that he is a more than able stopper who deserves his chance as a number one in the top flight. Aston Villa can’t afford to get carried away this summer and Dean Smith must stick with his new Villa Park hero instead of splashing out on Butland – they have other priorities when it comes to new signings.”
Luke Glanville:
“As good as Jed Steer was for Aston Villa at the back end of last season, I think they do need to sign Jack Butland this summer. Let’s not forget that Steer was playing in Sky Bet League One in the first half of last season and could do with longer to develop, instead of being thrown straight into the Premier League. Apart from veteran Mark Bunn who has a bit, Dean Smith possesses no real top-flight experience between the sticks and that has to change in the next few months if they’re going to survive.”
Harry Sherlock:
“Butland would be an excellent signing for Aston Villa. He needs to be playing in the Premier League to ensure that he can earn his way into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2020. His career has somewhat stalled after being seen as perhaps the best young goalkeeper in the country but he’s still 26, meaning that he probably has another decade, at least, at the top level. £20m for 10 years works out pretty well. Villa should do all they can to get this one over the line.”
