Premier League newcomers Aston Villa will have to break their transfer record once again if they want Stoke City goalkeeper Butland.
Stoke City are expecting to receive £30 million for Jack Butland this summer, according to the Northern Echo. Whether Aston Villa should be willing to spend a club-record fee for the England international goalkeeper is another matter entirely.
Now, Aston Villa have only been a Premier League team for a month but they have already spent over £30 million in preparation for life in the top flight – £22 million of that going on new record signing Wesley Moraes.
But if Aston Villa want Butland, and Sky Sports believes they do, the Midland giants will have to splash the cash again.
Stoke are unlikely to sell the former Birmingham City wonderkid for a penny less than £30 million.
The question, however, is whether Butland is worth such a fee. Well probably not, even in today’s market, but a quality, reliable goalkeeper is absolutely priceless at a club who have had far too many duds between the sticks in recent years.
Villa fans will remember the dark days of Pierluigi Gollini and Mark Bunn, who frequently cost the club points in the Championship, while Orjan Nyland and Lovre Kalinic continued to threaten their progress last season with some seriously shaky displays.
Butland, however, is a solid shot-stopper who has proven himself in the Premier League. And while £30 million may be an eye-watering fee, Aston Villa simply cannot go into the top flight without a top class ‘keeper.
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