Tom Heaton is closing in on an emotional return to Premier League giants Manchester United with his Aston Villa contract due to expire at the end of this season, as reported by the Telegraph.
A lot has changed since the veteran goalkeeper bid farewell to life at Old Trafford over a decade ago.
At the time, Heaton was stuck behind Edwin Van der Sar in Sir Alex Ferguson’s pecking order and, when Cardiff City came calling during the summer of 2010, the Chester-born shot-stopper could not turn down the chance to play regular first-team football at long last.
11 years on, Heaton is heading back to the club where he made his name.
In what capacity, however, remains to be seen.
Will 35-year-old Heaton take on something of a Lee Grant role under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer; an experienced, third-choice option kept in reserve for the odd EFL Cup cameo? Or will he succeed David de Gea as Dean Henderson’s number two?
For now, that much remains uncertain.
What is certain, however, is that Heaton will no longer be an Aston Villa player, with his two-year, £40,000-a-week deal expiring in July.
The England international has not made a league appearance for Dean Smith’s side since a narrow victory over Burnley in January 2020. On that fateful winter’s day, Heaton would suffer the cruciate ligament injury which brought a premature end to his time as Villa’s first-choice.
You would imagine that Smith will be desperate to bring in a high-quality replacement for Heaton.
According to Takvim, Aston Villa sent scouts to watch Fenebarche’s £12 million Turkey starlet Altay Bayindir a few weeks ago.
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