Journalist Ashley Preece expects Aston Villa to try and strengthen their goalkeeping department next summer.

Jed Steer has been with the club for more than eight years but has never been able to establish himself as first-choice and therefore Preece reckons that someone could be signed to compete with number one Emiliano Martinez, who Midlands journalist Luke Hatfield believes is now worth £60m.

What does Villa's goalkeeping department look like?

Villa have two senior goalkeepers at the club, with Steer providing competition for Martinez, but the Argentine's form for club and country would suggest that he's highly unlikely to be dislodged, with international colleague Lionel Messi calling him one of the best in the world.

But Villa's second-choice keeper, Steer, has made just 36 appearances despite signing from Norwich back in 2013 and isn't currently putting any pressure on the former Arsenal shotstopper.

p1fic2ns6bdacm52bocihbmij.jpg

ENTER GIVEAWAY

Steer has been out on loan several times, but none since his spell with Charlton in 2018-2019 and has contributed very little since returning from the Addicks.

Read More - January Transfer Window 2022: When does it open, when does it close and which players are going to move?

Including this season, the 29-year-old has played just eight first-team matches and has even found himself as third-choice in the previous two campaigns.

Steer will still have one year left on his contract by the time summer comes around, which means Villa would be looking to cash-in on him, assuming he doesn't want to get demoted to being a number three once again.

Arsenal were SHOCKING! Full reaction on The Football Terrace as they score late to draw with Crystal Palace...

And with Villa hoping to progress under Dean Smith and qualify for Europe this season, Preece believes that they'll be hoping to upgrade on Steer.

What did Preece say?

He told GIVEMESPORT: "In terms of a goalkeeper, I expect Villa to be in the market for a goalkeeper next summer.

"I think they'll be looking at young, homegrown, good goalkeeper to be pushing Martinez next season and obviously in future years as well."

Who could Villa sign as a replacement?

Villa have generally gone for older goalkeepers in recent years, with Pepe Reina and Tom Heaton the two notable experienced faces.

But Preece has revealed that the Midlands giants will be opting for a change of strategy now and will therefore go down the younger, homegrown route.

With that in mind, it wouldn't come as a great surprise to see Smith shopping in the EFL next summer, with Oxford's Jack Stevens, who's 24-years-old, one name already previously mentioned.