Is Reading’s Ali Al Habsi the goalkeeper Aston Villa should be targeting in January?

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Aston Villa are said to be eyeing a new goalkeeper.

The Sun this weekend reported that Aston Villa are eyeing a January move for Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.

Westwood, who was signed by Villa boss Steve Bruce at Sunderland, could reportedly cost the Villans £6 million, having starred for their promotion rivals over the past two-and-a-half campaigns.

Having shelled out £4.5 million for one goalkeeper already this season, it would be a sizeable outlay for Villa to make and one which Wednesday are far from certain to accept.

According to Owls boss Carlos Carvalhal, owner Dejphon Chansiri is determined to hang on to all of his side’s key players and with Villa pulling the plug on Wednesday’s move for Joe Bennett in August, they’re likely to be low down the Yorkshire outfit’s list of preferred buyers.

Lucky for Bruce, others options could be available, including another Championship number one who’s excelling this season.

Reading’s Ali Al Habsi (eight) has kept twice as many clean sheets as Westwood (four), made almost double the Irishman’s 32 saves (61) and contributed zero errors leading to goals – one fewer than his Wednesday counterpart.

Unlike the Owls, who tied Westwood to a new three-year deal earlier this year, Reading are not in a particularly strong negotiating position. Al Habsi’s deal runs out at the end of this season, meaning the Royals run the risk of losing him for nothing if they hang onto him past January.

The Omani goalkeeper may be 35 next month, but is showing no signs of age as he helped Reading up to third at the weekend.

If Villa truly believe in Pierluigi Gollini’s potential, Al Habsi could be the ideal short-term recruit.