Aston Villa have been looking for a new goalkeeper this transfer window, with their latest target being Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka, according to The Daily Mail.
The club have already gone in for two stoppers according to the report, but were put off by Stoke City’s £25 million valuation of Jack Butland and rebuffed by Burnley about their interest in Tom Heaton.
Villa are now looking to take advantage of the current uncertainty at St. James’ Park since Rafael Benitez left, to prise away Dubravka, who is reportedly valued at £12 million.
It’s also thought they will also face competition from AS Monaco, Porto, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Dubravka has been one of Newcastle’s most integral players since joining from Sparta Prague in January 2018, helping them stay in the Premier League.
Benitez’s side of last season was mainly built on defensive solidity, which Dubravka was an important part of, keeping 11 clean sheets in 38 league matches, also coming seventh in the charts for least goals conceded.
The 30-year-old made more high claims than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League, as well as managing 95 saves and 16 sweeper clearances.
Clearly, the Slovakian international has a well-rounded game and he was awarded the North East Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award last season, so has impressed on these shores and would join any club in the league with a decent pedigree.
Clearly, the protests against villainous owner Mike Ashley continue for sections of the Newcastle United support and the idea of selling another key first-team player is surely unlikely to go down well. With Ayoze Perez having departed and Sean Longstaff linked with a move to Manchester United, the sight of seeing Dubravka join a newly-promoted side would be a gutting one.
It would be a brilliant move from Villa’s point of view though, which would act as a major boost to hopes of maintaining their Premier League status past the upcoming campaign, considering the stopper’s experience in the top flight.
Villa fans, do you really think Newcastle would sell Dubravka to you? Join the discussion by commenting below…
