OPINION
If you were Jed Steer, you might be feeling more than a little aggrieved right about now.
The Aston Villa goalkeeper enjoyed a stellar conclusion to the season, and was a key figure in helping the club return to the Premier League at the third time of asking.
Nonetheless, it is understood that Villa will look to sign a new goalkeeper this summer, as reported by The Sun journalist Alan Nixon on his personal Twitter account earlier this month.
VILLA. Want a new number one keeper. Kalinic may be sent out on loan
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) June 2, 2019
Who Villa have in mind is still relatively unclear at this stage, but judging by Nixon’s latest update on the keeping situation at Villa Park, it definitely won’t be Jack Butland.
The Stoke City stopper has been linked with a move away from the club this summer, with the Potters understood to be demanding £23 million for him, as reported by The Sun.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Villa are regarded as one of the favourites to sign him, but Nixon has been quick to quash those rumours.
When the topic of Villa going in for the 6’4″ ace [Transfermarkt] came up on Twitter, Nixon very simply told a fan to forget the rumours because the club will not sign him.
Writing on his personal account, he said: “That’s because you’re not”.
That’s because you’re not https://t.co/YBmxj3AMmd
— Alan Nixon (@reluctantnicko) June 10, 2019
Nixon knows his stuff, and he tends to have pretty good record on this kind of thing, so if he says Butland isn’t moving to Villa, he probably isn’t moving to Villa.
At £23 million, that could prove to be a very costly bullet dodged for the Villans, who can surely pick up a Premier League quality keeper for a fraction of the price.