Aston Villa are in the hunt to sign Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton, according to EFL expert Sam Parkin.
Heaton is expected to be available in the January transfer window, having lost his place to Joe Hart at Turf Moor this season.
Speaking on the Totally Football League Show, former striker Parkin believes it will be Villa or Leeds who sign the three-time England international next month:
There are rumours abound that Villa and Leeds are interested in a new goalkeeper. Leeds might need another goalkeeper, not that I don’t rate Bailey Peacock-Farrell who had a good game at the weekend but I do think he’s a slightly weak link there.
Tom Heaton at Burnley. Bristol City won’t be getting him. It will be either Villa or Leeds if Burnley decide to let him go.
I think it’s all dependent on the fitness of Nick Pope and when he is able to be involved at Burnley.
I’m pretty sure one of them will get him and that will be a big leg-up. He will instantly upgrade Villa and I think Leeds.
An injury last season has curtailed Heaton’s progress hugely, robbing him of a place in England’s World Cup squad in the process.
His Burnley teammate Nick Pope profited from the 32-year-old’s absence, performing superbly for the Clarets and earning a spot on the plane to Russia.
As Parkin says, Pope’s return from an injury of his own could hold the key to Burnley letting Heaton leave or not, but he would be an excellent signing for Villa.
