Aston Villa are being tipped to secure a move for Burnley and England goalkeeper Tom Heaton, as per a report by Birmingham Live.
Dean Smith is looking to bring in a new ‘keeper in the January transfer window and could offer Heaton an escape route from Burnley. Fellow Championship side Leeds United have also been linked with him over recent weeks.
Heaton, who is 32 years-old, is keen to leave the Clarets for more regular football having fallen down the pecking order behind Joe Hart.
He is vastly experienced and would be a shrewd acquisition for Smith’s side. He has racked up just under 350 appearances so far in his career.
Heaton started his career at local side Chester before he was signed by Manchester United in 2002. He rose through the youth ranks at Old Trafford but never made a first-team appearance for the top flight giants. Instead, Heaton enjoyed various loan spells away at the likes of Swindon Town, Royal Antwerp, Cardiff City, QPR, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers.
He then left the Red Devils on a permanent deal to sign for Cardiff on a free transfer. Heaton spent two years with the Welsh side and played 40 games before rejecting a new contract offer to join Bristol City
He spent a season with the Robins in 2012/13 ahead of being snapped up by Burnley at the end of that campaign and has been there ever since, playing 181 times and helping them gain promotion to the Premier League twice.
Heaton has also made three caps for England and is now weighing up his next career move, with Aston Villa a likely destination.
