Report: Aston Villa open to summer loan exit for goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic

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Aston Villa could allow goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic to leave on loan in the summer transfer window, according to the print edition of The Sun on Sunday via HITC Sport.

Kalinic joined Aston Villa in January for a reported £7m (talkSPORT). This made him Dean Smith’s first signing as Aston Villa manager but he has not lived up to expectations.

The 16-cap Croatia international was brought to replace error-prone Norwegian stopper Orjan Nyland. But Kalinic proved to be equally underwhelming between the sticks.

He conceded 15 goals in eight games for Aston Villa. And towards the end of the season, Jed Steer took the number one spot. With Kalinic failing to break into the first-team on a regular basis, his immediate future remains uncertain. And Smith is reportedly willing to let him leave temporarily.

Aston Villa will grant the 29-year-old a loan exit so that he can get playing time under his belt. Whether he has a long-term future at Villa Park is unclear.

This report adds that Aston Villa could even consider selling him if a reasonable offer comes in. But receiving as much as £7m seems unlikely after his poor start to life in England.

A loan spell might be mutually beneficial as Smith prepares for life in the top-flight. It seems that Kalinic will be searching for a new club this summer.