Aston Villa are on the brink of signing Tom Heaton after an £8m offer for the stopper was accepted by Burnley on Tuesday night, according to John Percy.
The Telegraph journalist made the claim on his personal Twitter page on Wednesday morning and in the accompanying report he said that the England international would have a medical at Villa Park in the next 48 hours.
Heaton will become Aston Villa’s 12th signing of the season but their summer business doesn’t look like ending here – Percy also claimed that Villa would sign Zimbabwe international Marvelous Nakamba “in the next few days subject to a medical and visa”.
#avfc agree £8m deal for Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Improved offer was accepted last night #twitterclarets via @telegraph https://t.co/XKEkG0ZoUQ
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) July 31, 2019
Terrace Talk
Heaton is the fourth goalkeeper signed by Aston Villa in the last 12 months, after senior signings Örjan Nyland (August, £2.7m) and Lovre Kalinic (January, £5.4m) both failed to live up to expectations.
Heaton will cost more than both combined and at 33 is older than either of them but he should be a safe pair of hands and given the prices being paid for Premier League players at the moment, he would be a real bargain.
The Aston Villa fans seem pleased. One called it a “no brainer” and said Heaton is a “proven top Premier League keeper”.
33 isn’t that old for a goalkeeper either. One fan said he would bring “much-needed experience” to the Villa defence and said it was a “smart move”.
However, while Heaton certainly has experience, he’s only played 96 Premier League games, a number that might come as a surprise to some Villa fans.
If Percy says it’s happening, it’s happening, quality GK, very happy.
— John Platt (@Hack0_6) July 31, 2019
He’s a proven top premier league keeper mate, think this is a no brained as they say
— James (@JBaker_24) July 31, 2019
some much needed experience in the back 5. in 2-3 years we can reinvest in a really topline young keeper if were still in the EPL. Smart move. Use the rest to get a top striker now
— Kaza (@pkaza84) July 31, 2019