Dean Smith would reportedly rather sign Tom Heaton over Jack Butland

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Dean Smith would rather bring Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton to Aston Villa this summer than sign Stoke City’s Jack Butland, according to a report by the Sun.

They report that the £20 million price tag slapped on the head of England international Butland is putting off Villa, as well as fellow Premier League sides Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

The report says that Smith is in the market for a new goalkeeper despite offering a new contract to Jed Steer this summer – but prefers 33-year-old Heaton.

That’s apparently because he’s a more affordable target – which is important during a summer where Villa are looking to make improvements right across the pitch.

Butland would have more years of service left in him; at 26, he could feasibly be between the sticks for Villa for up to the next ten years and he has shown he can do the business in the Premier League.

Heaton is also a proven Premier League performer, and it’s only because Burnley have inexplicably assembled three English international goalkeepers that he would be looking for a move away.

The 33-year-old would be a more short-term option, but there’s no reason why he wouldn’t offer two or three seasons of reliable service, during which time perhaps Steer could develop into a longer-term successor.