According to reports in the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa have scouts keeping tabs on three young English goalkeepers, as they plan a long-term replacement for Brad Guzan.
The first player being scouted is Daniel Bentley, currently plying his trade at League 1 outfit Southend. Not to be confused with his former Tottenham namesake, Bentley is the first choice keeper for the Shrimpers, aged only 22.
The second is Jordan Pickford, the Sunderland youngster who is currently on loan with Championship side Preston North End. He played all 90 minutes when his Preston side knocked Watford out of the Capital One Cup earlier this season, and at the young age of 21, has a firm grip on the Number one jersey with Preston.
Alongside the possibility of new additions, Jed Steer, a player Paul Lambert recruited from the youth system of his former club Norwich, will be returning from his loan spell at Huddersfield in the Championship, where he will understudy another former Canaries player, Mark Bunn.
