{"id":1099487,"date":"2019-07-31T15:33:42","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T14:33:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1099487"},"modified":"2022-12-19T08:42:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-19T08:42:08","slug":"tom-heaton-aston-villa-burnley-transfer","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/tom-heaton-aston-villa-burnley-transfer\/","title":{"rendered":"Tom Heaton to Aston Villa? It could be Dean Smith’s most valuable summer signing yet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aston Villa have embarked upon a remarkable summer of spending which has blasted through the \u00a3100m mark. <\/strong><\/p>\n

As shown by Fulham last season, this level of investment carries a huge element of risk but the likes of Douglas Luiz, Trezeguet and Wesley Moraes feel like more astute signings that could make Villa’s top-flight return genuinely comfortable.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7324413-he-ll-be-arsenal-s-new-double-pivot-santi-cazorla<\/p>\n

But for all the astonishing attackers, majestic midfielders and dogged defenders coming into Dean Smith’s side, Villa’s most vital, sensible signing may still be to come… very soon.<\/p>\n

Recent reports suggest the Midlands club are on the verge of securing an \u00a38m deal for Burnley and England international goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, who has also been on Liverpool’s radar in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n

Consistency between the sticks is something which has plagued Villa for some time now, arguably since the departure of Brad Friedel in 2011.<\/p>\n

Shay Given’s experience filled the gap for one year, Brad Guzan proved effective if not a little erratic for four seasons after that, before leaving for Atlanta United, while, since then, not a single ‘keeper has ever been able to lay a serious claim to the gloves.<\/p>\n

Sam Johnstone had a positive loan spell, Orjan Nyland played his part last year, Mark Bunn deputised for the aforementioned Norwegian and Lovre Kalinic, the Croatia international, has not turned out to be the solution most thought he would be when arriving last season, leaking 12 goals in just seven games.<\/p>\n

Jed Steer meanwhile played a prominent role last term, with his Championship play-off semi-final heroics firing Villa to Wembley. He saved two penalties in the second leg shoutout against West Brom and made a number of fine saves against Derby County in the final, but for Smith, the prospect of bringing in a player who currently has\u00a0the third-highest save percentage of any goalkeeper to make at least 40 starts in the last three Premier League seasons\u00a0(72.5%), appears to be too good to turn down.<\/p>\n

In fact, only David De Gea (73.5%) and Hugo Lloris (73.9%) have better records than Heaton in that particular statistic.<\/p>\n