Aston Villa’s goalkeeping situation remains in a state of flux.
Dean Smith is still in the very, very early stages of his time as Aston Villa manager, but he will be assessing his squad ahead of making potential moves in the January transfer window.
Villa certainly need central defensive help with a lack of centre backs at Smith’s disposal, but he will also be looking at other areas of his squad, including left back and his goalkeeper.
Summer signing Orjan Nyland has been unconvincing so far, Andre Moreira is already becoming a forgotten man, Jed Steer is out at Charlton Athletic and Mark Bunn is certainly not a promotion-calibre goalkeeper.
If Villa can bring in another, proven goalkeeper in January, then Smith should certainly explore it – and reuniting with Newcastle United’s Karl Darlow may make sense for all parties.
Darlow has made just one appearance this season, and that came in the Carabao Cup, having been clearly made second choice behind Martin Dubravka since the January transfer window.
Darlow, 28, started out his career with Villa, spending eight years with the club before being released at the age of 16, and he has even worked under Villa boss Smith already having spent two loan spells under Smith with Walsall – and Smith hailed him on Walsall’s official website for his displays with the Saddlers.
A reunion would make some sense; Darlow knows what Smith expects of his goalkeepers, and his career is clearly going nowhere at Newcastle, whilst he has proven in the past that he is a top Championship-level goalkeeper.
That is what Villa need, and adding Darlow – a former Villa prospect – could help solve what is becoming a problem position for Villa having lost loanee Sam Johnstone at the end of last season.
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