Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies is reportedly wanted by Aston Villa.
According to The Mirror, Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is lining up a £4million move to sign Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex Smithies in January.
Villa made a couple of changes to their goalkeeping ranks over the summer, as they allowed Brad Guzan to join Premier League side Middlesbrough, with Verona goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini arriving at Villa Park.
Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce
Former Manchester United youngster Gollini impressed in his native Italy last season, but has endured an indifferent start to life with Villa, offering some good performances but also making a number of mistakes.
The 21-year-old may be taken out of the firing line during the January transfer window, with Bruce seemingly targeting a new goalkeeper, given that the Birmingham Mail reported just last week that a deal to sign Manchester United stopper Sam Johnstone on loan has been agreed.
QPR’s Alex Smithies saves the penalty from Aston Villa’s Jonathan Kodjia
However, with the Daily Mail claiming that Stoke City are looking to hijack that move for Johnstone, Villa appear to be lining up alternatives – and QPR ace Alex Smithies is now a target for manager Bruce.
The Mirror claim that Bruce thinks a new goalkeeper can help push Villa into the play-off places, and a £4million raid for 26-year-old goalkeeper Smithies could be on the cards in January.
Smithies, formerly of Huddersfield Town, has starred for QPR since making a 2015 move to Loftus Road, and his performances appear to have caught the attention of Bruce.
Intriguingly, Smithies actually saved a penalty against Villa just last week, as he denied Jonathan Kodjia from the spot – and whilst Villa did go on to win that game 1-0, Smithies may have done enough to tempt Villa into a January bid to sign him.
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