Report updates on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Stoke City’s Jack Butland

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Aston Villa have been chasing Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland for most of the summer so far.

According to The Sun, Aston Villa could miss out on signing Jack Butland as Stoke City are refusing to lower their asking price.

Villa are known to be looking for a new number one this summer, but Dean Smith’s side have struggled to get a deal over the line.

Butland is known to be one of Villa’s top targets, but they feel that the deal is just too expensive currently, with the Potters wanting £20 million.

Villa had been hoping to negotiate with Stoke to get the price down for the England international.

However, Stoke will have to give 20 percent of the profit from any sale to Birmingham City, due to a clause in Butland’s contract and they are seemingly unwilling to drop their asking price as a result.

Villa are now thought to be looking elsewhere, as Smith weighs up his options.

The Sun claims that Neil Etheridge and Tom Heaton are next in line to potentially be the subject of bids from Villa.

Smith’s side have strengthened hugely over the summer, but it would be a blow if they were unable to bring in a new goalkeeper.

Jed Steer was Villa’s hero in the play offs, but there are legitimate doubts over whether he is good enough to make the step up to the top tier.

Butland would surely be an upgrade, but it appears less and less likely that Villa will be able to get a deal over the line for him now, with time running out.