Current Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce barely gave Eldin Jakupovic a chance at Hull City – so he could hardly be blamed for choosing Sunderland.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce has left no one in any doubt of his desire to sign Manchester United loanee Sam Johnstone on a permanent deal in the summer. Yet, with the 23-year-old doing little to commit his future to the Championship club thus far, it makes sense for Bruce to sound out a few alternatives.
And Sky Sports report that he is ready to battle Sunderland for Hull City goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic – five years after Bruce made the goalkeeper his first permanent signing at The Tigers.
The 32-year-old started the current season behind David Marshall in the pecking order but, since Marco Silva arrived at the KCom in January, Jakupovic has been the club’s undisputed number one, his virtuoso performance in the 0-0 draw at Old Trafford a personal highlight.
However, with just one year remaining on his contract, Sky Sports report that Hull are braced for offers this summer.
Once bitten, twice shy?
Although the fact that Bruce brought him to English football on a free from Aris Thessaloniki does not necessarily give Villa the advantage over a Sunderland side who are unlikely to lose home-grown hero Jordan Pickford in the summer.
After all, Jakupovic was far from first choice under Bruce. After spilling a simple corner into his own net against Sheffield Wednesday in January 2013, Jakupovic was forced to wait 15 months for Bruce to trust him with another league appearances in Hull colours.
He was even farmed out on loan to League One outfit Leyton Orient during the 2013/14 season.
And with experienced Scot Allan McGregor firmly established as first-choice, the one-time Swiss international only made seven league starts in the two seasons after hitting rock bottom at Hillsborough.
Therefore, with Jakupovic establishing himself as a Premier League worthy goalkeeper since Bruce walked out of Hull last summer, you could hardly blame him for choosing Sunderland instead of Villa.
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