Aston Villa may be keen on signing Oxford United goalkeeper Jack Stevens – but boss Karl Robinson is absolutely adamant no deal will be done.
Stevens, 23, has come up through the Oxford ranks and really emerged as their first-choice goalkeeper last season.
Stevens played 26 times in League One, emerging as a real talent under Robinson despite Oxford missing out on promotion to the Championship.
English shot-stoppers will always be wanted men given homegrown quotas in the top flight, and Stevens now finds himself a man in demand.
The Sun reported last week that Aston Villa now want to sign Stevens having missed out on a couple of goalkeeping targets.
They wanted Paulo Gazzaniga, but he joined Fulham. Marcus Bettinelli was another target, only for the ex-Fulham stopper to sign for Chelsea instead.
Stevens could now emerge as a top target to offer cover and competition for Emiliano Martinez between the posts, even if the step up from League One to the Premier League is a big one.
Now though, Oxford boss Robinson has told the Oxford Mail that Stevens is ‘not going’ after turning down one mystery bid, seemingly reluctant to let him go after losing defender Rob Atkinson to Bristol City.
“He’s not going,” said Robinson. “There’s a price tag on our players and Jack appreciates that. It’s fantastic for him, but it’s also fantastic we said no. It’s not the only bid we’ve said no to,” he added.
Villa have already landed Emiliano Buendia, Ashley Young and Leon Bailey, but Stevens seemingly won’t be following them to Villa Park if Robinson gets his way.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
