Wolverhampton Wanderers could make Matija Sarkic their first signing of the summer with the goalkeeper now a free agent after leaving Midland neighbours Aston Villa, according to The Sun (12 July, page 61).
While it would be all-too easy to suggest that Villa need all the help they can get at the back, having conceded more Premier League goals than anyone outside of Anglia this season, the blame cannot be apportioned solely to Dean Smith’s shot-stoppers.
Yes, Pepe Reina and Orjan Nyland have made the odd mistake this season.
But, more often than not, Villa’s overworked glovesmen have been relied upon to bail out the error-prone defenders in front of them.
And with Tom Heaton, Jed Steer and the highly-rated Viljami Sinisalo also in Dean Smith’s ranks, it seems that there was no place at Villa Park for one of the most highly-rated ‘keepers in British football.
Sarkic left Bodymoore Heath when his contract expired at the end of June. Though it seems that the Montenegro international won’t have to go far to find his next club.
The Sun claims that the 22-year-old could soon be snapped up by Villa’s near neighbours with Wolves keen to bring some extra competition to Molineux – especially with John Ruddy’s immediate future more uncertain than ever.
The report suggests that Sarkic, who enjoyed a fine spell at Livingston in the first half of 2019/20, could be loaned out once again to ensure he gets the regular first-team football he needs.
And that should be music to the ears of a Sunderland side who lost Scotland international Jon McLaughlin to Rangers a fortnight ago.
Sarkic has admirers at the Stadium of Light (25 May, page 59) – and, on paper, he should be one of the finest goalkeepers at League One level.
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